An MLK Day event at Grand Canyon University was the setting for a good matchup between the Millennium Tigers and the Westview Knights. The appealing matchup in this game was in the post, between Westview’s 6-foot-8 junior center Andre Adams and Millennium’s 6-foot-9 junior center Elston Jones.
Early on in the game, there was almost no offense, as our first point was a free-throw at the six and a half minute mark. However, once Westview scored this first point, they seemed to take control.
Millennium’s offense struggled against the 1-3-1 zone Westview was running. It seems that Westview was attempting to keep the ball out of the post and out of Elston Jones’ hands.
The Tigers called a timeout with two and a half minutes left, down 11-2. They were struggling to get anything going offensively. However, the timeout proved effective, as they went on a 7-2 run to end the first quarter and cut the lead to 4. A 13-9 first quarter score wasn’t very exciting, but it was very competitive and smart basketball.
The second quarter started the same way, with a lack of offense for both teams. A Westview timeout midway through the quarter fueled a run, which gave us a halftime score of 27-14, Westview.
Westview's zone was very efficient, as they held the Tigers to just five points in the second quarter. The bright point for Millennium was Elston Jones, who despite rarely touching the ball on offense, scored 7 points and had 7 rebounds. He was effective getting on the offensive glass and getting some easy put–backs.
Jordan Martin contributed 5 points and 3 steals for the Tigers. Westview was led by Andre Adams and Terrence Bland who each had 6 points and 5 rebounds. Orlando Sabor also had 6.
The key to the second half for Millennium would be to trying to figure out the zone they were up against, and getting some points up on the board.
The third quarter began and the feeling of the game had changed. The quarter started fast-paced, with both teams getting out in the break. This is the kind of game Millennium would need to play to get back in it. The Tigers were able to get the lead down to seven, when back-to-back layups by Terrence Bland stopped the run - keeping the lead at 12 to end the third, 41-29.
The fourth quarter brought a similar look, as any run Millennium attempted to make was answered by Westview. Westview would hold on to win 54-40 in a great defensive effort.
For Westview, Terrence Bland and Andre Adams were solid inside. Bland finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds, and Adams finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds. Orlando Sabor also contributed 11.
For Millennium, the bright points were Elston Jones and Jordan Martin. Jones finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks. He was dominant defensively in the post, as he swatted anything Westview took to the rim. Martin scored 10, collected 5 rebounds, and had 5 steals. He was everywhere on both ends of the floor, and his hustle and quickness helped Millennium turn defense into offense.
A matchup between two good teams ended with a Westview victory. It was a great game at Grand Canyon University for the MLK Basketball Classic.
