Miller delivers for Mustangs in thriller
The emotions took over even before the final buzzer went off Tuesday at Morgan Park.
The No. 4 Mustangs were deliriously celebrating a phenomenal 85-77 comeback win against No. 2 Bogan. One of the Bengals’ star players was buckled over in tears and being consoled by a fan. This was all happening on the court with three seconds left to play.
Earlier in the game, a fan walked onto the court and started yelling at Morgan Park’s bench. He was removed from the tiny gym by security. All the passion is what makes the rivalry so special.
“Whoever loses is going to cry,” Morgan Park junior Adam Miller said. “That is just what happens. We love to play them, and they played a hell of a game.”
Miller stepped up and led the Mustangs with 28 points, overwhelming Bogan with a midrange jumper in the second half.
“It shows the type of player Adam Miller is,” Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin said. “I told him Bogan is going to grab you. Bogan is going to hold you. Bogan is going to get in your face and talk stuff to you. Are you built for this? He said he was built for any and everything. I told him to go out and show the world who the best player in the state was. He did.”
Morgan Park took it on the chin last weekend in a high-profile loss to St. Louis Vashon at the Chicago Elite Classic. Then the news got worse. Point guard Marcus Watson picked up a nagging injury and promising sophomore guard Boopie Miller transferred.
All of a sudden the Mustangs went from being loaded with guards to depending on Miller to run the show and do the scoring.
“Marcus is the engine, the heartbeat,” Irvin said. “This is a big win with all the adversity we are going through. These guys showed how tough and resilient they are and shows I can coach, too.”
Chris Roberts had 27 points and eight rebounds for the Mustangs (4-1, 1-0 Red-South/ Central). Karl Jones, a 6-9 senior, added 11 points and six rebounds and Deshawndre Washington scored nine and grabbed four boards.
Bogan (5-1, 0-1) led 37-21 midway through the second quarter, but Morgan Park responded with a 22-4 run in which Miller scored nine points. Then Bogan led by 10 with 1:43 left in the third quarter, but the Mustangs again closed the gap with an 11-0 run.
“That is one of his worst teams,” Bogan coach Arthur Goodwin said. “Adam Miller and the four blind mice. We are 10 points better. Nick knows that. We just have to finish.”
Jordan Booker scored 19 for the Bengals and 6-8 senior Rashaun Agee had 25 points and 14 rebounds. Kennedy Brown, a 6-9 transfer from Evergreen Park, added 13 points and eight rebounds.
“I’ve been on [Miller] all week,” Irvin said. “Against Vashon he took a lot of [three-pointers]. We’ve been working with him off the dribble. He’s one of the best midrange shooters I’ve seen in my life in high school.”
Next up for Morgan Park is No. 3 Bloom in the Team Rose shootout on Saturday at Mount Carmel.
“These big games are what I’m built for,” Miller said. “I had a few turnovers but that is from me not talking to me teammates, that is my fault. Next time we will be ready.”