Millikan girls stun L.B. Poly in Moore League basketball opener

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Just when you think everything is in order and No. 1 Long Beach Poly is back to being unbeatable ...

Unranked (until later this week) Long Beach Millikan defeated the Jackrabbits, 51-46, Monday night, winning on the Poly court for the first time since 1999. Courtney Clements, one of those players who Poly Coach Carl Buggs says keeps him awake at night, scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half to lead the Rams (11-2), who have quietly put together a terrific season.

Clements missed much of the first half because of foul trouble. ‘Those other kids held down the fort while she was on the bench,’ said Buggs, whose team led at halftime, 27-23.

Ranked No. 1 in the Southland and No. 4 in the nation by USA Today, Poly (9-2) got 12 points from Jasmine Dixon, but she was the only player in double figures. After falling behind for the first time since the first quarter, 45-43, Poly was unable to keep pace at the free-throw line. Millikan made six of eight free-throws to close the game and end Poly’s aura of Southland invincibility. The last time the Jackrabbits lost on the court to a local team was on March 3, 2006, in the Division I-AA title game to Lynwood, 52-44; Poly went on to win the state title.

Millikan, which trailed by as many as 10 in the third quarter, made 17 of 20 free throws in the second half.

The most telling statistic may have been that Poly had only seven offensive rebounds.

‘We got a lot of good looks, but missed too many shots inside,’ Buggs said. ‘I give Millikan the credit, they played with a lot of intensity and they made plays when they had to.’

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.millikanrams.com