Marty Gordon
Auburn and George Wythe high schools are very familiar with each other’s boys’ basketball programs. Matter of fact, they have met four times this season including Saturday’s Region C Class 1 championship at Cassell Coliseum on the Virginia Tech campus. All four times, Auburn has claimed the victory.
Saturday’s contest took a little longer, going to four overtimes before Auburn took the 54-52 win.
Auburn’s Nick Millirons hit the jumper from the elbow for the win with three seconds left in the extra click.
Auburn head coach Terry Millirons said it takes a lot of work by everyone involved to be able to get back there and win another regional championship. “These guys have put in the work and have really come together as a tight knit team,” he said.
“We just have to stay focused on the next game in front of us. I feel like the tournament this year is wide open.”
This is Auburn’s third straight regional championship and fourth in six years. Millirons, the player, finished with 30 points including four 3-pointers.
Who knows? Auburn and George Wythe could meet a fifth time as both make the state tournament quarter finals.
Auburn is now 20-8 overall on the season including a 14-0 regional mark. They were scheduled to host an opening state playoff game against Chilhowie last night (Tuesday). George Wythe was set to play Honaker with the two possibly meeting again.
