GENTRY — Gentry girls basketball coach Tim Rippy said opponents call Courtney Millsap the Energizer bunny.
The senior point guard showed off a little of that never-stop tenacity last week in the Lady Pioneers4A-1 Conference tournament win over Ozark to earn a berth in this week’s 4A North Regional Tournament.
The 5-foot-3Millsap scored a gamehigh 17 points, including three 3-pointers, to help Gentry to the narrow 39-34 win over Ozark. She also grabbed six rebounds, nabbed four steals and blocked a couple of shots.
But that wasn’t a surprise to Rippy.
“She told me sitting here in the office the morning before ‘Coach, I’m not gonna let us lose.’” Rippy said. “That’s the mentality you want from a senior point guard.”
Millsap backed up the statement with her performance, but she said that’s just her job.
“Being a leader that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Millsap said. “Being a senior, it’s hard. But I told them there’s only one option.”
Rippy pointed to a time early in the game when both teams were struggling to score and Millsap got Gentry going.
“She wenton a little run there, picking the guard’s pocket a couple times, getting long rebounds andhitting a couple 3s,” Rippy said. “She said ‘Come on guys, I gotcha. Let’s go.’ I think everybody fed off that.”
Millsap will lead the Lady Pioneers (20-9) into another elimination game Thursday at 4 p.m. when Gentry takes on host Pottsville in the opening round of the regional. A win will give Gentry its first state tournament berth since the 2001-02 season and that’s been the ultimate goal this season, Rippy said.
Rippy said Millsap went through a little shooting slump at mid-season, after a strong start. But she’s definitely performing wellat the most important time of the season.
Millsap came up with a season-high 26 points in a 57-55 win over Farmington and followed that up with 21 the next night in a win over Ozark.
“Those were huge games as far as seeding for the district tournament,” Rippy said.
Millsap’s outside shooting has been a key for Gentry. It allows room for senior post player Terra Jones to work inside the paint. Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game, but Millsap is a close second at 11.5.
“That makes such a difference for us when she shoots it well, people have to extend out on her and she’s quick enough to get to the rim,” Rippy said. “She penetrates and can create for others and alsoleads our transition break.
“When we’re not shooting it well, it’s tough people can double off on Jones,” Rippy said.
Millsap admitted she’s had thoughts of her senior season coming to an end, but she’s not looking for it to end anytime soon.
“I’m not done and I won’t be done for a while,” Millsap said.
Sports, Pages 7 on 02/23/2011