Earlier this week, Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin talked with sophomore guard Adam Miller and showed off newspaper clippings from when Irvin starred as a sophomore at Carver.
Miller got the message.
“If he can do that as a sophomore, I definitely can,” Miller said. “I knew I had to step up my game and start producing more for us.”
Miller delivered Friday night, scoring 23 points to lead the Mustangs to an 82-71 win over Leo in the Big Dipper championship game at Rich South. He was named the tournament’s MVP.
“He had never seen those newspaper clippings,” Irvin said of Miller, a Peoria Manual transfer. “I told him you’ve got to play at a high level no matter how old you are. I was scoring 40 when I was a sophomore.
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“He’s going to be an NBA player someday, so he’s definitely capable of doing it.”
Marcus Watson scored 24 points while Cam Burrell finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds for Morgan Park (10-5), which won the title with Illinois recruit Ayo Dosunmu sidelined for the last three games by a leg injury.
Fred Cleveland scored 20 points for Leo (7-5). Kendale Anderson contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lions fought back from big deficits numerous times, but Miller had the answer time and again.
When Leo cut a 12-point Mustangs lead to 56-50 late in the third quarter, Miller drained his fifth and final 3-pointer with three seconds left to kill the Lions’ momentum.
“Any time you can hit a big three like that, it’s huge,” Miller said. “It gets everyone going.
“When I first started here, I had to get used to new teammates and a new system. It’s all part of the process. Now, I’m fitting in and finding my role.”
Burrell had a huge fourth quarter to put the game away, scoring 11 points. He was a major presence on the boards all game.
“(Irvin) told me I had to dominate my opponents and control everything inside,” Burrell said. “With guys out, I had to carry the load.”
Leo came out of the gates fast, jumping to a 12-5 lead, but the Mustangs responded with a 14-2 surge as Watson and Burrell each scored four points.
Jadon Williams scored 15 points and Malcolm Bell added 10 for Leo.
Despite the loss, Cleveland hopes the tournament will be a springboard for the Lions.
“We wanted to shock the world and win this, but at least we went 3-1,” he said. “We’re hoping to go on a big run after this.”
Thornton 55, Romeoville 51: DeMarco Collins finished with 17 points, while Delonte Jones had six points and nine rebounds for Thornton (6-6) in the third-place game of the championship bracket.
Farragut 58, Rich South 46: John McCorkle scored 14 points and DeJuan McClendon finished with 11 for Rich South (4-8) in the seventh-place game of the championship bracket.
Rich East 66, Hope Academy 62: Vashawn Sims poured in 20 points and Ramone Woods scored 19 for Rich East (9-5) in the championship game of the consolation bracket.
Michigan City 60, Rich Central 53: Bryonte Washington scored 17 points and Dawan Evans added 14 for Rich Central (8-5) in the third-place game of the consolation bracket.
Steve Millar a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.