By Richard Smith
Twitter: @rsmithYWV

The Millennium boys basketball team in full flight is a frightening sight.

For the last month of the regular season, the Tigers geared down, limiting their star players and playing their entire roster against overmatched Desert West Region foes. Then the 5A tournament began and the gloves were off for the top seed.

In three home playoff games, Ty Amundsen's team has treated its opponents like its region rivals, winning by an average of 39 points. Its latest tour de force was a 94-61 throttling of #4 seed Phoenix South Mountain in a Feb. 27 semifinal.

A more mature Millennium team is on  a mission to erase the heartbreak of last season's one-point loss to Gilbert in the state title game. It will have that chance against #2 Ironwood (27-2) in the finals at 8 p.m. March 2 in Desert Financial Arena at ASU.

"To be able to get to the state championship back to back is not easy to do. We had they focused the week after they lost to Gilbert, and you could see how much they wanted it throughout the summer and fall workouts," Amundsen said. "When we got back to Arizona, we weren't going to mess around. We played this tough national schedule because I wanted to let them know that when we came back here, this would be our time."

More than anyone, junior forward DaRon Holmes has thrived with the opportunity to go all out. The 6-9 star hit the Jaguars with a bit of everything - threes, drives, dunks, post moves, swats and passes out of double teams - en route to 34 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

For all intents and purposes, those stats were compiled in three quarters. Millennium led 82-52 after three quarters, triggering a running clock and a clearing of the bench in the fourth.

"It's been really fun because our confidence is boosted and our coaches and team are all working together as a unit," Holmes said. "Teams think we're just me and Justus, but a lot of guys on our team do a lot of things."

Holmes was not alone inside. Senior forward Justice Marmara helped Holmes control the paint, collecting all five of his rebounds on the offensive end.

He converted most of these into putbacks or free throw attempts and finished with 19 points.

"This game we realized this team is not one to look by. We focused in and did what we had to do," Marmara said.

These teams met for the first regular season game on Dec. 5 at South Mountain. The sophomore -dominated Jaguars stunned observers by pushing the 5A favorite to the brink before losing 63-62.

But there were extenuating circumstances. Shortly before tip off, Amundsen decided not to coach due to the recent death of his mother.

"I didn't coach that game. And we ran one offense and one defense the whole game. That says a lot because the kids didn't even know I wasn't caoching until 10 minutes before the game. And we had the Sierra Canyon game right after that," Amundsen said. "But you've got to give credit. South Mountain went from a knock over to where they're at now. They're well coached and play extremely hard."

The Jaguars were game the second time around but could not stop falling further behind. South Mountain trailed 34-21 after one, then 60-45 at halftime as senior forward Michael Batchelor swished a 35-footer at the buzzer.

Batchelor and the other returning Tigers from last season have been working for this opportunity since last year's final ended. Marmara and fellow senior forward Robby Devires, transfers from different parts of Texas, quickly learned about their determination.

"I wasn't here last year so coming in here, there was a constant reminded of the championship game last year, what that experience was and how they felt after it," Marmara said. "Once we got to the playoffs, our practices changed. It got a lot more intense and everyone was able to lock in."

The two newcomers added to an already-deep roster, allowing Millennium (24-5) to press frequently and stay fresh through frequent substitutions.

All five losses came to out-of-state powerhouses in the Tournament of Champions in Illinois and the Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina. 

"Our practices are so hard. We really try to simulate the experience of games. We played six games in arenas this year. Playing that kind of competion will prepare you for anything," Amundsen said.

Now the Tigers are the veterans of the big stage as junior stars Holmes and Justus Jackson (13 points) are flanked by six seniors who are playing with a sense of urgency.

"At this point, we've got to keep doing the things we've always been doing. It's a big game but still it's just a game. We have to make sure we go in all out and win," Holmes said.

Richard Smith
Associate Editor | Surprise & West Valley Preps
@rsmithYWV

rsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.