Top-ranked Mills ran its winning streak to 17 with another decisive victory Tuesday night.
Junior guard Branton McCrary scored 15 points and senior guard Grehlon Easter added 14 to power the Comets to a 71-42 rout of Sheridan in 6A/5A-5 Conference play at The Galaxy.
Senior guard Taydrean Ford chipped in with 10 points for Mills (18-2, 7-0), which hasn't lost a game since dropping a 65-59 decision to No. 4 North Little Rock on Nov. 18. Since then, the Comets have outscored their opponents by an average of nearly 24 points during their 17-game run, with 10 of those victories coming by at least 23 points.
"I thought it was a pretty solid overall effort in this one, and that's what we're looking for," Mills Coach Raymond Cooper said. "We got off to a really good start, at least that first group did. But then we subbed in with that second unit, and they didn't come out with quite enough energy."
The teams traded baskets to open the game before a pair of free throws from McCrary started a 13-0 run for Mills. Senior guard Jackson Coleman hit back-to-back buckets for the Yellowjackets, but an 8-footer by Easter on the next trip ignited a 15-2 spurt, punctuated by Ford's runner to give the Comets a 30-8 lead.
The Yellowjackets rallied in the second quarter behind senior guard Tyler Cleveland. Trailing 30-11, Sheridan (11-10, 1-6) ran off nine points in row, with Cleveland scoring the final five. His three-pointer with 5:16 left in the quarter pulled the Yellowjackets within 30-20 before Cooper reinserted his starting group. Mills outscored Sheridan 14-3 the remainder of the half to build a 44-23 lead.
"That second group is supposed to be our energy group, but they didn't come with it," Cooper said. "Sheridan runs a lot of good sets, and they hurt us some during that stretch. So I had to put my first group back in there earlier than I wanted to try to stop that run."
SHERIDAN (42)
Alexander 1 0-0 3, Cleveland 5 2-2 16, Coleman 3 0-1 6, White 2 0-0 4, Cacciatori 3 4-6 10, Melton 1 0-0 2, Threlkeld 0 0-0 0, Morris 0 1-2 1, Ingram 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 7-11 42.
MILLS (71)
McCrary 6 3-3 15, Easter 5 2-2 14, Virden 3 0-0 9, Cross 2 4-4 8, Jones 3 0-0 6, Ford 5 0-0 10, Greene 3 0-0 9, Peaster 0 0-0 0, Wright 0 0-0 0, Shelton 0 0-0 0, Clark 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 9-9 71.
Sheridan (11-10);11;12;11;8;42
Mills (18-2);30;14;14;13;71
Three-point goals -- Sheridan 5 (Cleveland 4, Alexander 1), Mills 8 (Virden 3, Greene 3, Easter 2). Totals fouls -- Sheridan 9, Mills 14. Fouled out -- none.
Sports on 01/31/2018