Andrew White scored 33 points, including 21 in the first quarter, as Miller defeated Virginia Episcopal, 75-63, on Thursday night in a matchup of two of the top teams in the state.
White, who has committed to play for Kansas next year, came out sizzling, scoring all of his team’s 21 first-quarter points. White went 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the opening quarter and accentuated his scoring blitz with a steal and dunk followed by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the quarter.
“I knew this would be a big game I wanted to rise to the occasion a little more than I have in the past,” said White. “When I start hitting early, it kind of opens things up for other players.”
VES could not match White basket for basket and ended the quarter down 21-11. After White's sensational first quarter, VES coach Curtis Staples knew his team was in for a long night.
“White came out and was on fire. When a guy comes out and gets it going like that, it’s hard to stop him,” Staples said.
In the second quarter, Staples decided to change from man-to-man defense to a box-and-one set. The box-and-one allowed VES’ best defender to cover White wherever he went on the court, while the other four defenders played zone. VES was able to hold White scoreless in the second quarter, but his teammates started to heat up.
“After the first quarter they went to a box-and-one and that’s when you notice other players started making shots,” said White.
VES was nonetheless able to chip away at the lead and entered halftime down 38-30.
In the second half, VES continued the box-and-one defense on White, but the Bishops were hard-pressed to erase the deficit White’s first quarter performance had created.
“The box-and-one slowed White down a bit but by then he already had 20 points,” Staples said.
Miller’s lead was never seriously in question and the ultimately won the game.
Anthony Swan lead VES with 22 points.
Miller, now 14-5, will face Evangel Christian at home on Monday.
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