Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 29, 1993 TAG: 9301290220
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS STEUART STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RINER LENGTH: Medium
INTENSE WORK MAKES AUBURN'S MILLIRONS A LEADER
Terry Millirons leads the Auburn High School boys' basketball team by example.And he sets a darned good one.
"Terry's in here any time the gym is open," Eagles coach Kevin Harris said. "Although he is one of the better players on the team, he doesn't think that gives him a right to privileges. He works hard all of the time."
Millirons, 16, is always among the first to finish sprints in practice, during the off-season he lifts weights, runs and works on basketball, basketball and more basketball.
This past summer he focused on his outside shooting and attended several basketball camps in preparation for playing a leading role for the Eagles.
"I am trying to be the go-to guy," Millirons said. "I like that role. There are more opportunities for me this year. It seems like I am down low fighting for the ball more and more. And toward the end of the games, they are trying to get the ball inside to me more often."
The 6-foot-2 post player is doing more and more down there too. He has snared 111 rebounds, an average of 8.5 per game, and has blocked nine shots while chipping in two steals per game - all team highs.
Millirons is fundamentally sound. He's not a spectacular player and plays within himself.
"I used to mainly be a post-up player and didn't have much of an outside shot," Millirons said.
He's got one now. This season he leads the team in scoring with 17 points per game on 63 percent shooting from the field. He has tallied 221 total points, a quarter of the Eagle's offensive output.
Last week Millirons scored 32 points in a pair of Mountain Empire District wins against Narrows and Bland. Currently the Eagles are fifth in the district.
"I think we can be one of the top three teams in the district," Millirons said.
Regardless of where the Eagles finish, Millirons is sure to be among the MED leaders at season's end.
"He is an intense player. He doesn't select times to play hard, he plays hard all of the time," Harris said. "His intensity is what makes him what he is, which is one of the best players in the league."