Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502100057
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-15 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: RINER LENGTH: Medium
Terry is merely following in the footsteps of his parents and various other family members who are now a part of Eagle basketball history. For Millirons, basketball started out as a way of enticing his family to play football, his initial love, with him.
"When I was younger, I never liked playing basketball," said Millirons. "My parents would offer to play football with me if I played basketball with them. Eventually I fell in love with it."
Millirons, who honed his game while attending Snowville Elementary School, playing one-on-one against his parents, no longer resembles the kid who played basketball only for the opportunity to play football.
In his four years on the varsity basketball team at Auburn, Millirons has missed only one practice and no games. Earlier this season, he played against Christiansburg with a temperature of 102 degrees.
"I like to be at practice, and everybody knows it," said Millirons. "Maybe if everybody [his teammates] knows I'm out there, they will come to practice even if they are a little sick. When basketball comes around, thats it. There is nothing better."
"Terry has exhibited high degree of maturity," said Auburn boys basketball coach Kevin Harris. "Mentally he has a very good perspective on things. He know his strengths and weaknesses, and he concentrates on those things. He is a leader by example, both on the court and in the classroom."
The maturity Harris spoke of has benefited the 6-3 senior on the court this season, where he is averaging 19.9 points a game and a team leading 8.3 rebounds per contest, and in the classroom, where Millirons ranks near the top his class.
"I think my hard work carries over from the court to the classroom," said Millirons. "A lot of people think athletes are not that smart, but I want to prove that all athletes are not stupid. You have to get an education because you can't play basketball forever."
Though Millirons realizes his future in the game of basketball is not an infinite one, he has called playing college basketball a dream. If the dream becomes reality, it would take place at Roanoke College, where Millirons has had contact with the coaching staff. But if organized basketball is not to be part of his future, Millirons is fully prepared for the alternative, obtaining a college at Virginia Tech.
Other notable performances:
Patrick Bailey, of Narrows, scored 27 points helping the Green Wave erase an 18 deficit to defeat Grayson County, the fourth ranked single A team in the state, 74-70.
Christiansburg's John Hairston scored 26 points, including the game winner with two second remaining, to propel the Demon's to a 73-70 victory over Millirons and the Auburn Eagles.
by CNB