Still perfect: Pioneers hold off Flucos for regional title

View larger image Millbrook's Courtni Green shoots and makes a 3-pointer during the Pioneers' win over Fluvanna in the Region II finals on Saturday in Orange. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Millbrook's Courtni Green (22) drives through defender's arms and is fouled in the win over Fluvanna during the Region II finals on Saturday in Orange. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Millbrook's Sara Mead (15) drives in for a lay up in their win over Fluvanna during the Region II finals on Saturday in Orange. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Millbrook's Alisha Mobley (34) goes up for a shot against Fluvanna's Millicent Williams (24) during the Pioneers win in the Region II finals on Saturday in Orange. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Millbrook's Sara Mead (15) closes in on defense as Fluvanna's Mia Lloyd (23) approaches during the Pioneers win in the Region II finals on Saturday in Orange. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Millbrook's Lacey Harris (44) shoots from underneath the basket in their win over Fluvanna during the Region II finals on Saturday in Orange. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Millbrook's girls basketball team poses for pictures after their win over Fluvanna during the Region II finals on Saturday in Orange. Andrew Thayer/Daily

By Tommy Keeler Jr. - tkeeler@nvdaily.com

ORANGE -- Millbrook found itself in a physical battle Saturday night.

In a matchup of contrasting styles, the Pioneers' up-tempo game enabled them to build a lead and pull away with a 65-52 victory over Fluvanna in the Region II, Division 3 final. Millbrook will now play Warhill either next Friday or Saturday at either James Madison University or Robinson Secondary School.

The Flucos used their size to turn the game into a physical encounter, but the Pioneers were able to maintain their composure when they needed it the most.

"It was very physical. When you get to this level it's going to be," Millbrook coach Debby Sanders said. "Everybody's fighting for their lives. When you get two championship caliber teams they're going to lay it all on the floor and see what happens. It's going to be physical. You've got to be aggressive and keep your head about you and stay in your gameplan.

"This group is always calm, cool and collected. They're very relaxed, nothing fazes them."

Millbrook has dominated most of its opponents this season and early in the game it appeared the Pioneers might be on their way to another lopsided win.

Millbrook (19-0) forced eight first-quarter turnovers and Sara Mead and Courtni Green combined for 11 points as the Pioneers built a quick 13-4 lead.

Fluvanna (21-2) battled back in the second quarter, using an 8-2 run to take an 18-17 lead with 4:28 left in the half. Green converted a steal into a layup, but Fluvanna's Briana Burruss responded with a 3-pointer to give Fluvanna a 21-19 lead.

It would be the last lead of the game for the Flucos. Mead, who finished with 18 points, scored eight of the Pioneers' final 10 points of the half to give them a 29-24 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, Green took over. The sophomore guard hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 of her game-high 29 points to help push Millbrook to a 48-35 lead.

"At the beginning of the game it wasn't going my way," Green said. "But, coach [Sanders] told me to 'keep your head up.' The third quarter's always our quarter so I just came out and shot the ball."

The Flucos wouldn't go away quietly as they chipped away at the lead in the fourth quarter.

A basket by Sarah Ryan and two free throws from K-anna Loyd cut the lead to nine. Once again it was Green who stepped up for the Pioneers.

Green, who missed her first three 3-point attempts of the game, hit another 3-pointer and scored on a layup to give Millbrook a 53-39 lead with 5:01 left.

"I was kind of down [early in the game]," Green said of her 3-point shooting. "But, I looked over at the bench and [Sanders] told me that shooters keep shooting and so I did."

The Pioneers eventually extended the lead to 17 on two free throws by Lacey Harris, but the Flucos made one last run. Loyd scored seven points during an 8-0 spurt, which cut the lead to 59-50 with 2:19 left.

Millbrook used a minute off the clock on its next possession and Harris, Green and Mead each made two free throws to seal the victory.

Fluvanna was led by Loyd with 23 points and 21 by her sister, Mia. The Flucos, who had their 16-game winning streak snapped, will play Greensville County next Friday or Saturday at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The win came on the same floor where the Pioneers lost in last year's regional final to Freedom.

"I like being on this side," Mead said. "The winning side is always nice. This time it was definitely fun being able to hold the winning trophy up in the air."

The Pioneers didn't go too crazy with a celebration after the victory. Millbrook lost in the Group AA, Division 3 state semifinals last year and the team realizes there's still more work to be done to get back to the state semifinals.

"One step at a time," Sanders said. "We want to get back to VCU if possible and a good way to do that is just to go out there and play basketball. We have a goal in mind and we want to get there. We've got one more to get there, so we've got to keep playing hard."