Kevin Cross and the Mills Comets waited until the final 6:14 to make a rout of their 4A-5 Conference game with Little Rock McClellan Saturday night.
Cross scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds in the final quarter as the No. 4 Comets shook off a game effort by the Lions for a 77-60 victory at the Galaxy.
It was a contentious contest that saw a double technical and 35 free throws attempted in the second half.
"Every game is emotional. You want to win them all," said Mills senior Orion Virden, who finished with 17 points.
"But it is McClellan. Mills and McClellan has always been a thing. Football, basketball, it doesn't matter what sport."
Mills led 55-48 starting the fourth quarter and saw that lead dwindle to four points after Ian Robinson's three-pointer at the 6:22 mark. But eight seconds later, Robinson -- who led the Lions with 17 points and six rebounds -- picked up his fifth foul, which hindered McClellan's comeback chances.
"It was big only from the standpoint that he's a senior and there's a style he needs to play to elevate himself and us," McClellan Coach Chris Threatt said.
"I think he's starting to get an understanding of that. ... Until then, Cross and [Robinson] had been exchanging buckets. We lost our exchange."
Mills (20-4, 13-0) scored 13 of the next 17 points to put the game away.
"He was on fire tonight," Mills Coach Ray Cooper said of Robinson. "He's always been a good player but tonight he just stepped up. We threw everything and everybody at him and he was still coming with it."
Cross was held to four points in the first half, but he scored 8 of the Comets' 13 third-quarter points and wound up with a game-high 23. Senior guard Branton McCrary added 14 points and four assists.
Sophomore Madison Peaster came off the bench to add nine points.
Senior Elijah Green added 11 points and junior Eric Woods and senior Demetrius Torrence each scored 10.
McClellan (16-7, 9-3) led 20-17 a minute into the second quarter but back-to-back baskets by Virden put the Comets on top for good.
Mills was 27 of 49 from the floor and 17 of 23 from the free-throw line. McClellan hit 20 of 46 shots and 16 of 26 free throws. Mills outrebounded McClellan 36-24, including an 11-2 advantage on the boards in the fourth quarter.
GIRLS
MILLS 47, LR McCLELLAN 39
Senior Tamik Halk scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half to lift the Lady Comets (8-14, 5-8) over the Lady Lions (8-11, 5-7) in a 4A-5 Conference game.
Halk also led Mills in rebounding with eight.
Little Rock McClellan trailed 36-30 starting the fourth quarter but pulled to within 41-39 with 2:41 remaining.
Jasmine Ellions added 10 points and six rebounds for Mills.
Freshman Raven Brown paced McClellan with 15 points and 4 assists.
Junior center Brittany Patterson added 6 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
Mills led 20-18 at the half. McClellan scored the first eight points of the third quarter, but the Lady Comets responded by scoring 16 of the next 20 points.
Saturday’s results
BOYS
Mills 77, LR McClellan 60
GIRLS
Cedarville 49, Mansfield 38
Hoxie 71, Sloan-Hendrix 34
Mills 47, LR McClellan 39
Sports on 02/03/2019