Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502160056
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
But to defeat the Giles boys basketball team this season, opponents will be forced to deal with a "double-double" of a different kind.
In a situation that can only be described as rare, the Spartans have two sets of twins on the same team. Coach John Howlett must distinguish between Aaron and Anthony Myers, along with Maurice and Raypheal Milton.
"They always have their jersey numbers to keep me from getting them mixed up,'' Howlett said. "But there was a game at Craig when I wanted to put Raypheal in, but they had their warm-ups on. I couldn't figure out which one was which."
The other teams get confused, too, and the twins take advantage of that situation.
"Sometimes the Giles opponents get mixed up when they are looking at our faces,'' Anthony Myers said. "They will be like 'I've got him. No you have got him.'"
The Myerses have become a potent combination for the Spartans.
The two juniors have fed off of each other's success much of the season. Aaron Myers leads the team in scoring, with an average of 14.9, and many of his baskets are a result of his brother's playmaking ability. Anthony Myers, a point guard, is leading the team with six assists a game.
Together, the pair helped the Spartans win 59-58 over Galax, the most dramatic win of the season.
"Galax missed a free throw with 10 seconds left, and Anthony grabbed the rebound and took the ball up the court,'' Howlett said. "Then he just waited for Aaron to get open on the right wing and got him the ball. Aaron hit the shot and we won by a point. I think it [being twins] makes a difference in a situation like that.''
Though the two are close both on and off the court, they are highly competitive, as are the Miltons.
"It's intense when we play against each other,'' said Anthony Myers, speaking for all four of them. "You want to see who the better twin is, but it makes us all better."
The one encounter that has yet to occur is the Myerses versus Miltons matchup.
"We are always switching things up,'' said Maurice Milton. "It's more like Milton and Myers against Milton and Myers."
"Switching things up" is a concept Howlett can identify with. To capitalize on the cohesiveness of the four, he instituted a 2-2-1 full court press, with the Myerses on one side of the court and the Miltons on the other. At least that's the way it was originally designed.
"We switched it up and had one Milton and one Myers on each side of the court,'' said Raypheal Milton. "Thats just the way it worked out."
"We are like four twins, or brothers, anyway," said Aaron Myers. "We know what is best for each other.''
Knowing what is best for each other and the team has been a key to the Miltons' contributions. Unlike football, where the two led the Spartans to a state championship in 1993, they are role players on the basketball team.
"It is something you have to live with," said Raypheal Milton. "You can't be the best at everything. It is no problem."
"It was a change from football," said Maurice Milton. "But it didn't bother us.''
During football season, the Miltons were team captains, while Anthony Myers (Aaron opted not to play football) was relegated to the periphery. On the hardwood, the Myerses captain the team.
The Spartans are 9-10 overall and 4-4 in conference play. Playing with more consistency down the stretch will be the key to any postseason drive. A task made more difficult by inclement weather, which has has caused long periods of inactivity, and a starting lineup that includes four juniors and a sophomore.
"I think we have a good shot," said Josh Stephens who is averaging 14.4 points a game. "We have to execute when it is needed, especially on defense."
by CNB