Wednesday, December 22, 1999
Milford takes first loss
BY CAREY HOFFMAN
Enquirer contributor
Games before the Christmas break often are easily forgotten in high school basketball. But Lima Senior's 72-65 victory Tuesday at Milford won't be.
“This was disappointing. The first loss of the season is always tough to take,” Milford coach Ernie House said after talking to his team for 30 minutes after the game.
“It's probably the biggest game we've had since we came into the Greater Miami Conference. It's almost Christmas, and we were undefeated, when most times we're 0-3 or 0-4 by now.”
Milford's 5-0 start was its best since 1971. But even in losing Tuesday to the defending league champion — a team that had an edge in depth, quickness and height — Milford showed some fire.
Lima coach Dick Heath wanted his team to get off to a fast start on the road, and senior guard Tavares Clay complied. Clay, who was 0-for-21 on 3-pointers in Lima's losses to Princeton and Lakota West earlier this month, hit four 3s in a span of 2:30 in the first quarter. By period's end, Clay had 13 points and Lima held a 25-11 edge it would never lose.
“But it wasn't easy,” Heath said. “This is the GMC, and that was a 5-0 team. They've got some nice players, they're well-coached, and they don't quit coming.”
Milford used a 15-8 spurt at the start of the third quarter to get within six at 45-39, but Lima doused that rally with a 7-0 run of its own to end the third quarter. In the fourth, Milford trailed by double figures until one minute was left to play, but the Eagles got to within seven and had the ball after Lima was whistled for a technical for having six players on the floor with 22 seconds left in the game.
“I thought we had a lot to lose tonight,” said Milford's Neil Barraco, who had 24 points and seven rebounds to lead the Eagles. “Once the game got started, I wasn't as nervous as earlier, but they came out and hit some big shots.”
Lima shot 57 percent in the game and had 16 offensive rebounds, including nine rebounds each from 6-foot-9 Bob Davenport and 6-6 Earl Ingram. Clay led Lima with 21 points, while Ingram added 13 and Davenport 12.
Adam Meranda added 13 points for Milford, which came into the game allowing opponents only 39 points a game.
LIMA SENIOR (72) — Clay 8 1 21, Luster 2 0 4, Amerson 3 0 6, Lyles 1 0 3, Miles 1 3 5, Ingram 5 3 13, Moore 3 0 6, Cunningham 1 0 2, Davenport 5 2 12. Totals: 29-51 9-16 72.
MILFORD (65) — Skidmore 1 0 3, Meranda 5 2 13, Robertson 3 0 6, Barraco 10 1 24, Kaufman 3 0 6, Huesman 1 3 5, Strief 4 0 8. Totals: 27-57 6-10 65.
Lima Senior ....... 25 12 20 15—72
Milford ....... 11 13 19 22—65
3-point goals: LS - Clay 4, Lyles; M - Skidmore, Meranda, Barraco 3. Records: LS 5-2 (3-2 GMC), M 5-1 (3-1 GMC).
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