Miller denies Purdy in district title game
March 2, 2021
Lee Stubblefield
The Miller Cardinals used the old school formula of stifling defense and deadly free throw shooting to defeat the Purdy Eagles, 47-29, in the Class 3 District 12 championship game at Purdy on Saturday night. Miller held Purdy to quarter totals of 7, 6, 4, and 12 points, and buried 18 of 22 free throw attempts in a dominating performance.
Purdy hung close through two quarters, with the Eagles’ defense limiting Miller’s offense. But the Cardinals controlled the tempo, slowing the game to snoozer pace at times. Osiel Aldava scored the game’s opening basket, and Jacob Brown drilled a trey from the left wing for a 5-4 Purdy lead at the 2:55 mark of the first quarter.
The Eagles would not lead again.
Kaleb Groesbeck scored on a pretty alley-oop toss, and Joel Kleeman converted a pair of free throws to give Miller an 8-7 lead at the first break.
Miller outscored Purdy in the second quarter, 9-6. Six of those Cardinals points came at the line, including Kleeman’s cap to a three-point fast break play. Jeff Lung threw in a trey from the right corner for a 17-9 Miller lead. Purdy scored the final points of the quarter though. Zackary Brewer turned a half court steal into a layup, and Clay Henderson added free throws to cut the Miller lead to 17-13 at the half.
But the third quarter was all Miller.
The Cardinals opened the quarter with a 9-0 run, flying to a 26-13 lead at the 5:09 mark. Henderson responded with a three, and Brown hit the first of two free throws for a 28-17 game. Kleeman answered twice in the final minute. First, he tiptoed through traffic on the baseline, finishing with a finger roll. Then he buried a trey in the final seconds to give Miller a 33-17 lead at the final break.
But, to echo the chant from the Purdy student section, “We’re not done yet.”
The Eagles mounted a desperate comeback. Osiel Aldava scored twice in the paint. Ezequiel Garcia rained a trey from the right wing. Jesus Aldava scored with a loose ball after an errant Miller pass on the inbounds attempt. Suddenly, Purdy had pared the Miller lead to 33-26.
Kleeman drove through the lane for another Miller score, then Osiel Aldava hit the second of two free throws for a 35-27 score with 4:04 left to play.
But then the Cardinals went on an 11-0 run to ice the game. Nine consecutive free throws paved the way for Miller’s championship run.
Purdy finishes the season at 16-6. Miller improves to 20-7 and moves on to a sectional matchup with Greenwood.
Miller scorers: Joel Kleeman, 20; Jeff Lung,12; Brenden Thom, 9; Kalebb Groesbeck, 4; Logan Nield, 2.
Purdy scorers: Osial Aldava, 9; Jacob Brown, 6; Ezequiel Garcia, 5; Clay Henderson, 5; Zackary Brewer, 2; Jesus Aldava, 2.
Lee Stubblefield
The Miller Cardinals used the old school formula of stifling defense and deadly free throw shooting to defeat the Purdy Eagles, 47-29, in the Class 3 District 12 championship game at Purdy on Saturday night. Miller held Purdy to quarter totals of 7, 6, 4, and 12 points, and buried 18 of 22 free throw attempts in a dominating performance.
Purdy hung close through two quarters, with the Eagles’ defense limiting Miller’s offense. But the Cardinals controlled the tempo, slowing the game to snoozer pace at times. Osiel Aldava scored the game’s opening basket, and Jacob Brown drilled a trey from the left wing for a 5-4 Purdy lead at the 2:55 mark of the first quarter.
The Eagles would not lead again.
Kaleb Groesbeck scored on a pretty alley-oop toss, and Joel Kleeman converted a pair of free throws to give Miller an 8-7 lead at the first break.
Miller outscored Purdy in the second quarter, 9-6. Six of those Cardinals points came at the line, including Kleeman’s cap to a three-point fast break play. Jeff Lung threw in a trey from the right corner for a 17-9 Miller lead. Purdy scored the final points of the quarter though. Zackary Brewer turned a half court steal into a layup, and Clay Henderson added free throws to cut the Miller lead to 17-13 at the half.
But the third quarter was all Miller.
The Cardinals opened the quarter with a 9-0 run, flying to a 26-13 lead at the 5:09 mark. Henderson responded with a three, and Brown hit the first of two free throws for a 28-17 game. Kleeman answered twice in the final minute. First, he tiptoed through traffic on the baseline, finishing with a finger roll. Then he buried a trey in the final seconds to give Miller a 33-17 lead at the final break.
But, to echo the chant from the Purdy student section, “We’re not done yet.”
The Eagles mounted a desperate comeback. Osiel Aldava scored twice in the paint. Ezequiel Garcia rained a trey from the right wing. Jesus Aldava scored with a loose ball after an errant Miller pass on the inbounds attempt. Suddenly, Purdy had pared the Miller lead to 33-26.
Kleeman drove through the lane for another Miller score, then Osiel Aldava hit the second of two free throws for a 35-27 score with 4:04 left to play.
But then the Cardinals went on an 11-0 run to ice the game. Nine consecutive free throws paved the way for Miller’s championship run.
Purdy finishes the season at 16-6. Miller improves to 20-7 and moves on to a sectional matchup with Greenwood.
Miller scorers: Joel Kleeman, 20; Jeff Lung,12; Brenden Thom, 9; Kalebb Groesbeck, 4; Logan Nield, 2.
Purdy scorers: Osial Aldava, 9; Jacob Brown, 6; Ezequiel Garcia, 5; Clay Henderson, 5; Zackary Brewer, 2; Jesus Aldava, 2.