5 Takeaways from Millbrook vs. Southeast Raleigh
Two of the best girls basketball programs inside the Piedmont region in the Millbrook Wildcats and the Southeast Raleigh Bulldogs met on a rainy Monday evening to gain an edge over the other with the 2019-20 regular season reaching its…
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Continue ReadingTwo of the best girls basketball programs inside the Piedmont region in the Millbrook Wildcats and the Southeast Raleigh Bulldogs met on a rainy Monday evening to gain an edge over the other with the 2019-20 regular season reaching its conclusion.
Southeast Raleigh emerged victorious in what would be a lopsided 58-34 affair, but both programs displayed numerous strengths and weaknesses that could potentially impact their postseason outlook. Here are five takeaways from the matchup.
1. A clash of titans
Not only do Millbrook and Southeast Raleigh sport the two best records in the CAP 7 4A Conference, but each team has earned an invitation to the NCHSAA 4A Championship game since the 2010-11 season, with Millbrook obtaining three titles compared to zero for Southeast Raleigh during the decade.
Millbrook has stood in the way of a title for Southeast Raleigh on multiple occasions, but the current iteration of the program appears poised to claim a championship in the first year of the 2020s, with head coach Nicole Meyers overseeing an experienced group of players such as seniors Anya Poole and Jamia Hazell.
Despite falling behind Southeast Raleigh in recent years due to a couple of rebuilding years, Millbrook head coach Chris East has assembled a young team that has proven itself capable of a deep run in the NCHSAA 4A Playoffs, which features a handful of dynamic players like junior Keanna Rembert, freshman Reychel Douglas and others.
2. Defense dominated the first half
Meyers and East had their teams control the paint on both ends of the floor through the first 16 minutes of action, with Millbrook getting a solid defensive performance from Rembert in the first half only to have Southeast Raleigh counter their rival’s defense with blocks from Poole and sophomore Bobbi Smith.
Southeast Raleigh’s defense proved to be crucial during a sequence at the end of the first quarter in which they managed to put enough pressure on Millbrook’s Destinee Barnes as she aired a shot from the half-court line, which barely rimmed out and kept Millbrook’s lead at just 10-6.
3. Self-inflicted errors cost both teams
Although both Millbrook and Southeast Raleigh have had successful seasons, Monday’s game proved that both teams still have plenty of improvements to make before the start of the NCHSAA 4A Playoffs.
Ball control remained a constant problem for each program, as several promising offensive possessions would be derailed by either a poor passing decision, a travelling call or an offensive foul.
Millbrook would gradually succumb to foul trouble as the game progressed with Reychel and her sister Reiven Douglas each leaving the game with five fouls.
4. Millbrook runs out of gas
Millbrook only has two seniors on their active roster, which puts their underclassmen in a position to sustain momentum for a significant period of time, regardless if the tempo is quick or slow.
As Southeast Raleigh began to develop more cohesion on offense, Millbrook began to fall behind as a majority of their shots inside the paint failed to go through the rim.
With Millbrook’s deficit growing, they began to attempt more shots from beyond the arc, but Reychel Douglas would sink the only two three-point shots for her team in the entire second half after Reiven and Nadiah Harris drained a couple in the first half.
5. Southeast Raleigh continues its momentum
Southeast Raleigh’s victory over Millbrook on Monday improved their overall record to 17-1 on the season and extended their win streak to six games after suffering a heartbreaking 34-31 loss to St. Frances Academy on Dec. 28.
Anya Poole continued her stellar senior campaign by tallying 14 points on the evening, while junior Mikayla Harris and senior Jamia Hazell followed her with eight and seven points, respectively.
With a quality win over a rival that created many headaches for them during the 2010s, and five more games against teams that they have previously defeated during the 2019-20 season, Southeast Raleigh has emerged as favorites for the CAP 7 4A Conference title and will more than likely contend for an NCHSAA 4A title.