From the opening tip Friday, signs pointed to a frustrating evening for Gilbert High in its matchup with Millennium. It trailed Millennium almost all night falling back, inching closer and falling back time and again.

Maintaining its will throughout, however, a five-point swing in 24 seconds in the final three minutes allowed Gilbert to forge ahead and hold on to the finish in a hard-fought 53-47 triumph over visiting Millennium in a 5A non-region game.

Gilbert, No. 4 in the 5A power rankings, improved to 11-3 while Millennium, currently No. 17, dropped its second tough loss in as many nights to fall to 7-6. Its loss Thursday was to 6A No. 1 Sunnyslope by four points. Millennium was the 5A runner-up each of the past two seasons. 

"We showed a lot of sticktoitiveness tonight," Gilbert coach Jay Caserio said. "We had good shots early and didn't make many. The guys kept battling and didn't let their effort get away. The last three or four minutes were really good for us."

What possibly could have played on Gilbert's mind before inching ahead late? Quite a bit.

An early 8-2 deficit. Down 12-8 after eight minutes. Falling back 19-10 midway through the second quarter. Pulling within 23-19 just before the half. Leaving at intermission down 25-19. Never in front.

Second half opens and down eight points the first two minutes of play. A glimmer of hope as the quarter ends. A tying three-point shot rims out. Gilbert behind, but within 36-33. Still never in a lead even for a few seconds.

The fourth-quarter scoring began with a pair of threes from the top of the key by Millennium freshman guard Gabe Pickens (team-high 14 points) plus a free throw by teammate Coleman Fields (13 points). Gilbert's answer were a pair of twos that saw its deficit increase to 43-37.

Gilbert then summoned its best run of the game - 9-0 - to take command. The key plays were a steal by senior and defensive standout Tampa Scott that finished with his two free throws to pull Gilbert even at 43 with 2:44 left. With a defensive stop next time down, Gilbert was on the run. Junior guard Elijah Johnson, who struggled from three-point range in the first half, quickly sank his second trey for Gilbert's first lead (46-43) and lead for good with 2:20 to go. Teammate Nikko Pentelute (game-high 19 points) scored seven points in the fourth quarter, five in the final 1:26.

Gilbert finishes the regular season next week with three San Tan Region games. The first is Tuesday at Higley. Millennium also has three Desert West Region games left. Its next outing is Tuesday hosting Lake Havasu.