Last-second layup gives Mavs 51-50 victory in nailbiter

In an overtime thriller, Huron Valley Milford defeated Hartland on the road, 51-50, with a last-second layup by Brandon Wallace.

It seemed the Mavericks (5-3 overall, 1-2 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West Division) were going to run away with the game as they built up a 25-12 lead at halftime, but Hartland (5-3, 1-2) fought back and took a 47-44 lead late in the fourth quarter.

But, Joey Miller hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 47-47 for Milford and force overtime.

“Hartland has talent and we knew they would make a run,” said Milford Head Coach Chip Lutz. “We didn’t expect to blow the game open. We told them we had to control the tempo.”

In the overtime session, Hartland had a one-point lead before turning the ball over with 8 seconds left. The Mavs then went the length of the floor and Wallace emerged as the hero.

Miller led Milford with 22 points, including 4 triples; while Parker Millington had 11.

Matt Poches had 23 points to lead Hartland. Anthony Villar had 13.

“We were in a lot of these games last year where we would have a 2- to 3-minute stretch of defensive mistakes and missed shots,” Lutz said. “We’ve grown a lot since and this is a demonstration of that.”

Milford began the week with a 58-44 loss at home to Brighton, who sits in first-place in the KLAA West Division at 3-0 and is undefeated overall at 8-0.

The Mavs were done in by a 14-5 run by Brighton in the third quarter.

Steven Sloboda had 10 points to lead Milford.

“You can’t let Brighton extend a lead too much, otherwise it’s too much to overcome,” Lutz said.

Milford traveled to Pinckney on Tuesday, Jan. 18 after press time and will host Grand Blanc on Friday, Jan. 21.