High school basketball: Maddie Miller carries Highland girls over Aurora

AURORA — When Maddie Miller saw an opportunity for her Highland basketball team to defeat Aurora for the first time in her career, the senior refused to let the moment slip away. Miller led the Hornets to a 55-36 victory over the Greenmen with a game-high 24 points Saturday and was the driving force behind a 21-point second quarter that gave Highland the lead for good. "It feels pretty good, because in my whole high school career we haven't beat them," Miller said. "We were doing good but nothing great and letting them hang around in the first quarter. In the second quarter, we all decided we're going to press them hard, not let them get any breakaways and then we got the offense going." Behind current Maryland Terrapin Shyanne Sellers, Aurora (1-3, 1-1), which has won five straight Suburban League American Conference championships, won eight straight times over the Hornets, with Highland's last win (44-36) coming on Jan. 30, 2017. Highland had a 23-20 lead before Miller made a basket with 2:33 left before halftime, sparking a personal 10-0 run that included a three-point play, a 3-pointer and a bucket that gave the Hornets a 33-20 advantage. Miller scored 15 of her 21 first-half points in the second period. "(Miller) was very determined in the second quarter and willed her team to that big lead," fourth-year Highland coach James Madison said. "We've struggled in the past here, but it feels good to finally get over the hump and beat these guys." The victory concluded a perfect five-game road trip to begin the season for the Hornets (5-0, 2-0), who host experienced Copley on Wednesday in a critical contest. "It did kind of stink to start the season with five games away, but (Wednesday) is going to be an exciting game," junior Alayna Tessena said. "Copley's going to be a big game, and hopefully there's going to be a lot of fans there to support us." As much as Miller's scoring helped Highland pull away, a multi-person defensive effort led by Tessena and Aleena VanKirk, among others in the front court, against multi-talented Aurora standout Ava Ryncarz was key. The Hornets held Ryncarz to just three points from 5:30 left in the second quarter to 4:30 remaining in the game, when the senior's 3-pointer cut Highland's lead to 48-32. With Ryncarz limited, Aurora scored just seven points in each of the second and third quarters. "We just stayed on (Ryncarz) and made sure she didn't get the ball because she's a good shooter and a good driver," Tessena said. "(Holding them to 14 points in second and third quarters) was a great momentum builder for us and we just continued to drive." A Tessena score gave the Hornets their biggest lead, 48-27, in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Emily Miller matched that lead with a basket that put Highland up 55-34. Emily Miller grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds as the Hornets held a 46-36 advantage. Ryncarz, who scored 11 of her team's first 18 points, finished with team-highs of 21 points and seven rebounds, as well as one assist. "Ryncarz is a great player, and we knew that coming in," Madison said. "We tried to contain her and make her take tough shots, but she still wound up with 21 points." Freshman Kennedy Morgan stepped up again for Highland with a big game off the bench with 16 points. VanKirk, a fellow freshman, finished with eight points and six rebounds. "We knew that if we could win these first five games on the road we would make a better name for ourselves," Maddie Miller said. "A lot of other teams and people in the area didn't think we would be any good because we lost so many players, but we're just as good as any other team right now." Contact John Urchek at sports@medina-gazette.com. Highland 55, Aurora 36 HIGHLAND &emsp;&emsp;12 21 11 11 — 55 AURORA &emsp;&emsp;13 7 7 9 — 36 Highland — Delaney Lawson 0-0-0, Aleena VanKirk 3-2-8, Alayna Tessena 1-0-2, Maddie Miller 10-2-24, Grace Madison 1-0-3, Kennedy Morgan 6-3-16, Emily Miller 1-0-2, Calee Angus 0-0-0, Bianca Pallante 0-0-0, Grace Weber 0-0-0. TOTALS: 22-7-55. Aurora — Kailey Feckner 0-0-0, Hannah Rogge 1-0-2, Ava Ryncarz 7-5-21, Sam Stask 3-0-7, Camryn Cohn 2-1-5, Cailyn Ries 0-0-0, Grace Barbour 0-1-1, Julia Miller 0-0-0, Bailey Hemming 0-0-0, Emily Feckner 0-0-0, Kalley Samodell 0-0-0, Makenzie Mims 0-0-0, Brooke Manav 0-0-0. TOTALS: 13-7-36. 3-point goals — M. Miller 2, Morgan, Madison, Ryncarz 2, Stask. Rebounds — Highland 46 (E. Miller 12), Aurora 36 (Rycarz 7). Assists — Highland 10 (Lawson 4), Aurora 4 (Cohn 2). Records — Highland (5-0, 2-0), Aurora (1-3, 1-1). Junior varsity — Highland 34, Aurora 30 (H: Julia Starkey 11).