Miller boys fall to Willamette

By Emily Panter
Springfield Beacon

The Miller boys fought hard in their game against Willamette on Friday, Feb. 8, but the Wolverines pulled away in the second half to defeat Springfield 60-44.
Springfield won the tip-off and took a quick 2-5 lead, but Willamette quickly caught up to go up by two. Fighting hard, Springfield’s Cody Pryce grabbed the defensive rebound and passed to Trent Davis, who found himself under the basket for an easy two points to tie it up at 7-7 with just over two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. But the Wolverine’s LeRon Bennett responded with a three-pointer and they would end up leading 10-9 at the end of the first eight minutes.
Willamette struggled to score in the opening minutes of the second quarter, which the Millers made sure to take advantage of. Brock Auxier hit a long three-pointer to take the lead, but they would quickly loose it after Willamette capitalized on free throw opportunities. Trading leads, the Millers would eventually regain it with a shot by Robbie Church near the end of the half, but a three-pointer by Willamette’s Michael Seiler would be the final lead change of the game and give the Wolverine’s a 25-23 at the buzzer.
Springfield kept it close in the beginning of the second half, trailing by as little as one point. But the Wolverines went on a 10-point run to lead 39-29 with over half the third quarter remaining. Springfield would cut the lead to six with Pryce’s successful trip to the line, but a three-pointer, field goal and free throw would give the Wolverine’s a 47-35 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Still digging hard the Millers tried to stage a comeback, but Willamette basically clinched the victory when Bennet successfully made a shot, quickly stole the ball from the Millers, and Tommy Barnett would convert it for another two points to go up 54-42 with 2:40 remaining. Free throw opportunities and a rebound would give the Wolverines the eventual 60-44 victory.
The loss keeps the Millers in fourth place in the Midwestern League, but they trail a playoff spot by two games, and first place by six.