They have a lot of talent returning plus the transfer kid from Martinsburg.
Millbrook boys pull out win against Woodgrove
- By MARK SAWYER SPECIAL TO THE WINCHESTER STAR | The Winchester Star
Millbrook’s Jordan Funk (20) drives against Woodgrove defender Brock Redman in the first quarter on Friday. Funk scored 15 points as the Pioneers defeated the Wolverines 72-69.
- Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star
Millbrook’s Ben Curtin drives past Woodgrove’s Patrick Strite on the way to the basket in the second quarter on Friday. Curtin scored 19 points as the Pioneers won 72-69.
WINCHESTER — It’s only two games into the Rob Harris era at Millbrook High School, but if the first two games are any indication it could be an exciting year for the Pioneers.
- Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star
Three nights after rolling over Warren County by 30 points, the Pioneers opened up the home portion of their schedule with an impressive 72-69 non-district victory over a very good Woodgrove team out of the Dulles District.
“This team has really done a great job of coming together early in the season,” Harris said. “We have always talked about it being a process and that process means that we have to take each game in its entirety. ... I told the team at the end of the game each and every guy is going to have to step up and contribute at some point. It’s good to get a good win against a very good Woodgrove team. They’re going to be hard to beat in that [district].
“It’s a joy to be able to watch them come together and find a way to win. That’s the part about this team that I’m really, really happy about. When you can gut out close wins against good teams it shows a lot of character.”
Millbrook had only six points in the first six minutes of the game and 12 total for the first quarter as the Pioneers found themselves down 16-12.
But, it didn’t take the Pioneers long to get rolling in the second period, opening with an 8-2 run to grab a 20-18 lead with 6:34 left in the half. Jordan Funk hit two consecutive layups to tie the contest and then give the Pioneers the lead.
Woodgrove (1-1) briefly reclaimed the lead 21-20 on a long 3-pointer with 6:22 left. Millbrook answered with a barrage of treys to build its biggest lead of the night.
With 5:44 left in the half, senior Ben Curtin got the run started by giving the Pioneers the a 23-21 lead with the second of his five 3-pointers on the night. Trammell Anthony got in on the fun 20 seconds later and buried a long-range jumper for a 26-23 advantage.
Curtin would add another long-range bomb and Julien Hagerman ended the run with a trey of his own. In the middle, Jalen Tyson added a free throw. When the dust had settled, the Pioneers had a 13-4 run to take a 33-25 lead with 3:40 remaining in the half.
As hot as the offense was for that two-minute stretch, it was just as cold for the last three minutes of the half. Woodgrove ended the half on a 5-1 run and closed the gap to 34-30 at the break.
Woodgrove continued its run to start the third quarter and outscored the Pioneers 10-2 to recapture the lead at 40-36. The Pioneers scored the next four to tie the game and for the remainder of the quarter the game see-sawed back and forth.
During the last six minutes of the third quarter there were three ties, seven lead changes and the biggest lead either way was four points. Trailing 48-47 with 4:12 left in the third, the Pioneers outscored the Wolverines 8-3 to close the quarter and regain their four-point lead at 55-51.
As is the case with many close games, the difference down the stretch was at the free throw line. For the game, Millbrook made eight more free throws (17) than Woodgrove attempted (9) and when the game was on the line the Pioneers were at their best from the stripe.
With just under four minutes left, the Pioneers had built a seemingly safe 66-60 lead and had the ball looking to add to it if not put the game away. However, a turnover sparked the Wolverines and they went on a 6-0 run to once again tie the score with 1:57 to play.
Millbrook would not make another field goal, but was able to regain the lead, and salt the game away from the free throw line hitting 6-of-8 over the last two minutes.
Following a timeout, the Pioneers were able to build up another five-point advantage (71-66), making 5-of-6 free throws while the Wolverines had three straight possessions without points.
Woodgrove would again threaten by pulling within 71-69 with 10 seconds left.
The Pioneers were able to run most of the clock out. With a little more than a second to play, Jordan Jackson put the finishing touches by sinking 1-of-2 from the line.
In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers only made three field goals but were able to make 9-of-13 free throws, finishing 17-of-25 for the game. Woodgrove only made 5-of-9 for the game.
Millbrook had three players in double figures, led by Curtin with 19 points.
“This is a big momentum builder for the season — a big win for us and the coaching staff and to get coach Harris to 2-0,” Curtin said. “They’re a good team. It was anybody’s game tonight. It was back and forth both ways. It was a blast playing this game.”
In addition to Curtin’s 19 points, Funk added 15 and Tyson chipped in with 13.
Owen Fuller led the Wolverines with a game-high 21 points. Alex Owen and Brock Redman each added 13 points each.
