By Don Ketchum

One loss is tough to take for a contending team. Two in a row is even more frustrating. Three in a row is insane.

The Lady Tigers from Goodyear Millennium maintained their sanity and avoided that third straight setback on Tuesday night (Jan. 17), returning the favor against Avondale Westview with a 42-40 basketball victory after losing to Westview at home on Jan. 13.

Millennium, No. 12 in Division I power points entering this week, raised its record to 15-5 while Westview, which was No. 1 on the charts, slipped to 19-4.

Millennium coach Cory Rojeck said his team did a better job of sticking to its game plan, pounding the ball inside early until things opened up for Peace Amukamara and the team’s other guards. On defense, the Lady Tigers knew Westview’s preference is to run, so they tried to slow the Knights down, particularly late in the game.

Amukamara, who helped Glendale Apollo win the Class 4A Division I title last season before transferring, scored 23 points for Millennium, 16 in the second half.

She had been dealing with a sore leg, an injury that might have kept others from playing.

“We were going to keep her out of practice yesterday (Monday), but she said, “No, I can play,’ ’’ Rojeck said. “She’s a tough kid.’’

Westview lost starting player Marissa Rincon with a leg injury just 19 seconds into the game, and she did not return.

Millennium had a 16-15 lead at the half, and started the third quarter in what Rojeck called a lull. The Lady Tigers trailed 28-23 late in the third but rallied to tie it at 30 entering the fourth. Amukamara scored five points, including a 3-pointer, and Treniese Sylve added a basket to spark a 7-2 run.

Amukamara scored on a drive and Joyelle Dancy converted a pair of free throws to help Millennium get the early jump in the fourth. The lead reached six points before the Knights came back to within a point as Joanne Nimes hit a 3-pointer and made a pair of free throws.

Nimes’ foul shots, with 2:16 left, were the last points Westview would put on the board. Amukamara hit one of two free throws to make it 42-40 with 42 seconds left.

Westview had one last chance to tie it, taking the ball out along its own baseline with :03 showing, but the player who received the inbounds pass was too far under the basket to get off a good shot.

“Our girls fought hard,’’ Rojeck said.