Millennium Storms Back to Defeat O'Connor in OT for 2nd Consecutive Open Title

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The Millennium Tigers are a powerhouse and they continue to prove it year after year. They became the first team to win back-to-back girls basketball open division titles with their come-from-behind win in an overtime thriller over #4 O'Connor.

It is their sixth total title in the last 7 seasons.

Millennium head coach Danny Soliman says a goal is to be one of the most prominent programs nationally. 

“I believe we are one of the best programs in the state,” Soliman said. “The goal is to be one of the best programs in the country.” 

Even though they won, the game by no means was an easy one for Millennium. 

Both teams would keep it close to start.

For Millennium in the first quarter, it was a team effort.

Five different players for the Tigers would end up scoring. 

Most notably, Millennium senior guard T’maea Etuati would snag a steal and take it to the rim for two points. 

Towards the end of the first quarter, O’Connor was able to hit a pair of three-pointers. 

O’Connor senior guard Audrey Bhesania and O’Connor sophomore guard Francesca Sofia were the ones to make the shots from behind the arc. 

Opening up the second quarter, the Eagles went on an 8-1 run. 

Leading a majority of the run was O’Connor junior guard Ava Schooler, who had three straight baskets for her team and finished the quarter with 11 points. 

It wouldn’t take long, though, for the Tigers to catch right back up. 

Junior guard Dashia Richardson would help her team crawl back into the game with six points in the second quarter. 

Richardson would also get help from sophomore guard Mariah Brownlee, who was able to come down with multiple tough rebounds and five points. 

At halftime, the game was tied at 25 apiece. 

Coming back from break both teams struggled in the third quarter. 

Schooler would be able to hold the lead for O’Connor as he had the first four points in the third. 

Rounding out the third quarter O’Connor would catch fire from deep. 

O’Connor junior guard Risi Lancaster, Schooler and Bhesania would all hit three-pointers to close out the quarter. 

Heading into the fourth O’Connor led 39-34. 

With their backs against the wall the Tigers relied on a freshman to get them going. 

Millennium freshman guard Amaya Ribbens-Brown would begin to take the game complety over. 

She would make bucket after bucket to eventually tie the game up. 

Ribbens-Brown would ultimately give Millennium the lead after she hit one of the clutchest three-pointers of the season. 

Entering the fourth Ribbens-Brown only had three points but in the fourth quarter alone she compiled 10. She said she is meant to be on the court and is buit for moments like those. 

“I repeat to myself dominate,” Ribbens-Brown said. “This is me, I belong out on the court, that’s geniuenly how I operate.” 

The Eagles would be able to tie the game up once again though at 48.

Just like the Liberty vs. Perry game that took place an hour before them, the Tigers and Eagles were headed to overtime.

For a majority of the game Millennium was full court pressing O’Connor and it would end up causing the Eagles issues in overtime. 

Only scoring four points in overtime O’Connor fell behind.

Defense wasn’t the only positive for the Tigers in overtime but Ribbens-Brown would continue to take over. 

Ribbens-Brown added four more points in overtime and put the game away. 

As she is only a freshman, expect to hear the name Ribbens-Brown a lot more in the future. 

“The first two quarters was a fluke,” Ribbens-Brown said. “The second two quarters should be my every game plus more.”

The Tigers were able to defend their throne and still be the best team in Arizona with the win. 

Now being back-to-back Open Divison Champions Millennium is looking to be the next greatest dynasty in Arizona. 

“I want to enjoy this one,” Soliman said.  “The goal is to come back and do it again next year.”