Knights junior beats all odds
Glenn Miller has a reputation.
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Evans' Hank McCladdie goes for the layup against Aquinas' John Douglas during basketball action at Evans High School on Friday evening.
Photo by Michael Holahan
Opposing teams know the Evans junior is a fearless shooter, capable of shooting from anywhere from the floor.
The opposing team's best player almost always draws the assignment of guarding Miller. Aquinas' Eric Stallings drew the job Friday night.
He failed.
Miller made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Knights as they beat visiting Aquinas 66-44.
"He has been a special player," Evans coach Kevin Kenny said of Miller, a junior transfer from Augusta Prep. "He lifted us up in the third quarter with his shooting."
The Fighting Irish had cut a 13-point halftime deficit to six points midway through the third quarter. Miller then proceeded to drain two threes to effectively end the game.
"I felt hot out there tonight," Miller said. "I think those two shots really gave us the momentum. We never gave in after those."
Miller's torrid shooting performance somewhat overshadowed a career night for Jerome Manuel.
Manuel scored 16 points, 14 of which came in the first half to help give the Knights a 38-25 halftime advantage, but it was his defensive play along with three assists that made his night impressive. Manuel, a 5-11 junior, blocked four shots and had three steals in the game.
Evans' Lauren Middleton tries to take a shot against Aquinas' Amanda Morrell (left) and Georgia Brown during the women's game at Evans High School Friday evening.
Photo by Michael Holahan
"His play was fantastic," Kenny said. "Everyone thinks we are a two-man team with (Hank) McCladdie and Glenn. But Jerome showed he is a weapon as well."
Aquinas was led by Eric Stallings, who scored 17 points after a 34-point performance against Harlem Tuesday night.
The Evans Lady Knights also prevailed, 45-24, in what their coach called a "sloppy game."
Evans (1-4) picked up its first win of the season, largely thanks to a Lady Irish team that shot 8-46 from the field.
Aquinas didn't score a point in the second quarter, following only three in the first, to trail 20-3 at the half.
"There is no doubt it was a sloppy game," Evans coach Tim Whitfield said. "But we will take the win."
It didn't get any better in the second half. Aquinas didn't score a field goal from 5:48 left in the first quarter until 5:58, a span of 15:50.
Aquinas coach Scott Harrison was thrown out of the game in the second quarter after drawing two technical fouls for arguing calls.
The crowd wasn't as lucky and had to sit through a second half in which the teams shot a combined 19 percent from the field.
"We have tried to speed up our game this year," Whitfield said. "It has caused us to make mistakes."