CHEEKTOWAGA —- It was now or never.
With seven seniors on the team, this year is the last opportunity for several Spartans to win another sectional title.
The rush of “right now” propelled Starpoint to a win in the fourth quarter.
“I just kept saying it (right now) because it was for seven of us right now, or it’s never gonna happen again,” Megan Milleville, one of seven seniors on the team, said. “So we just needed to work and work our hardest and do it for each other, not just ourselves, and for coaches too. And I think that’s what kind of pushed us through.”
After a back-and-forth affair that was tied heading into the final quarter, Megan Milleville and company outscored Orchard Park 16-8 to punch their ticket to the Section VI Class AA final at Buffalo State, the Spartans’ third title game in as many years.
Milleville led the team with 18 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter, when it was needed the most.
The senior is also a major reason the Spartans were crowned champions last season after nailing a bucket with .05 seconds on the clock.
The teams traded buckets throughout the game’s entirety. It was tied at five and seven in the first before OP led 11-10.
The Quakers didn’t let up in the second quarter and Starpoint trailed 21-17 at the half.
“I think it was the second, when we were four points behind I just said to myself and the girls, ‘Ladies, we feel like this is not a great game right now, but we are only just four points behind,’” head coach Megan Reed said. “We need to just keep looking ahead, think the next shots going in, and just keep with our defense.”
OP led throughout the third until a free throw tied the game at 30, and they entered the final quarter tied at 32.
Milleville couldn’t point out a specific momentum shifter in the game, but that they were able to build off each other until it “just felt right.”
The girls knew if they just trusted each other and their coaches, everything would fall into place.
And, it did.
Milleville erupted like a volcano for Starpoint, netting crucial second chance points and continued to be a force in the paint.
She netted consecutive buckets to spark an 8-3 run that ended with clutch free throws from Madelyn Schmidt to take a 10-point advantage with 21 seconds left.
They utilized their press to tire out the Quakers, and because OP wasn’t getting good looks.
The Spartans went on to win 48-40 with ease despite a slower start. It’s their tenth win in a row.
Reed doesn’t have a lot of expectations heading into Buff State, noting how anything can happen and it’s best for her nerves that she’s not expecting something. She’s just happy the girls get to experience these moments and memories together, and hopes that this will affect their work ethic in the future.
“They’re going out there playing and doing what they love, and that’s really all that I care about,” Reed said.
The Spartans will face North Tonawanda in the Class AA finals at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Buffalo State.
“It’s just a happy place for us,” Milleville added. “And it’s just anything that happens, Sunday, I’m gonna love our girls regardless. And we’re just gonna work hard and try our best to see what we can do.”