Beyond being undefeated against its new conference since moving down to 5A in 2018-19, the Lady Tigers are virtually unchallenged in those two seasons.
Gilbert, led by NCAA Division …
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Beyond being undefeated against its new conference since moving down to 5A in 2018-19, the Lady Tigers are virtually unchallenged in those two seasons.
Gilbert, led by NCAA Division I-level twin sisters, came within six points at Millennium Dec. 14, 2018. But in that year’s 5A final rematch the Tigers from Goodyear rolled by 26. Gilbert lost by 14 this regular season and 35 in a 5A semifinal.
A quick check of the box score of the Tigers’ 59-30 title game win against Sunrise Mountain March 2 at ASU shows no reason to think next year will be any different. Though Millennium will miss the foundation of its offense (Ali Zelaya) and defense (Jasmine Singleton) there is plenty left in reserve.
“This program is built to reload, not rebuild. Do I expect this group of girls returning to be back on this stage a year from now? That would be the expectation,” Millennium coach Courtland Rojeck said.
Zelaya dominated in her final local game before heading to North Carolina — with 22 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. Singleton and fellow senior Kylie Grant controlled the Mustangs on the defensive end.
But the three primary players returning for next season combined for 30 points. Junior wing Amoret Maxwell made the most of her 11 minutes, hitting three three-point shots and scoring 11 points, while starting guards Trayanna Crisp (10 points) and Kassidy Dixon (nine points) carried their end.
Crisp has star potential and the keys will be in her hands as a junior next year. She ended up averaging 14.8 points and three assists a game.
Maxwell missed a late-season loss to Valley Vista but her long-range shooting adds another dimension to the attack (10.9 points). Dixon excels in running the fast breaks, rebounding and defending like a forward (7.8 points, 3.5 rebounds).
“Trayanna Crisp has already put her stamp on the program. She’s amazing. I love her so much. I also believe Amo has too and then there’s Kassidy, there’s Mia and there’s Reagan. They all have a really big role whether it’s practice or on the court in games,” Grant said.
Deeper on the bench are several players that figure to play much larger roles. Grant already mentioned two, in freshman guard Mia Amundsen — daughter of boys basketball coach Ty — and sophomore guard Reagan Grimsley.
Junior forward Reese Grimsley was the second most prolific Millennium bench player next to Maxwell.
“Those kids are great basketball players. And sometimes the freshmen and sophomores don’t play a lot. But they’re playing behind some really talented kids going to UNLV and North Carolina. So 1-12 we’ve got a group of kids who are great basketball players. And it’s going to be on this next group of kids to get out there and continue the tradition and success of Millennium High School,” Rojeck said.
This season’s roster was half seniors and half underclassmen. Along with Grant, Singleton and Zelaya, Imani Alegria, Mya Herrera and Zion Walters also played in their final game as Tigers.
The class of 2020 raised the program’s level. Millennium burst on the scene in 2014, reaching the Division I (equivalent to 6A) quarterfinals. The Tigers were 6A runners up in 2015, then a quarterfinalist in 2016.
Then these seniors arrived. In their careers, a 2018 semifinal loss was considered a disappointment. The Class of 2020 played a role in the 2017 team that surprised by reaching the 6A final, then led the way in the program’s first two titles.
“This program has come such a long way in 11 years. Whoever’s here next year, the expectation is we’re in this spot,” Rojeck said.
Yet there is a part of Rojeck that would not mind if he never finds out how long Millennium stretches its dominance of 5A.
If Arizona adopts an Open Division for the top eight overall ranked from 6A-4A, sign him up.
"I believe an Open Division is absolutely necessary for Girls Basketball in Arizona. I think some people may try to look past it, but we can’t deny what open enrollment has created in all high school sports in Arizona. Athletes, when entering high school, want to seek out programs who are successful," Rojeck stated in a March 11. "I’m not saying anyone needs to apologize for this, but it is what it is. The landscape for girls basketball in Arizona has created a situation where you have 8-12 programs throughout the state who are really good year after year."
Rojeck said a format where these schools get to battle it out to crown a true state champion.
In the season just passed, four 6A teams - Valley Vista, Hamilton, Perry and Pinnacle - separated themselves from the pack. And that was the most balanced "big school" conference.
Millennium's 29-point finals win was its closest playoff game. Seton Catholic beat Buckeye by 29 in its closest 4A playoff game.
"No team enjoys playing in a game where the score is 86-12. It’s not good for either team. From what I’m hearing, the AIA said they will consider after this next two year block," Rojeck said. "For it to happen, I think you will need the coaches throughout the state really coming together and campaigning for an open division in girls basketball. I think it would do a lot for the sport."
Richard Smith Associate Editor | Surprise & West Valley Preps @rsmithYWV
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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