ElsaJurrens

Freshman Paige Miller typically has one job on nights she plays in the Marian Crusader uniform- and that’s to score.

Nearing the end of her first season on the Crusader’s basketball team, Miller has made a name for herself. She is a leading scorer for the team. 

During the Omaha Metro basketball tournament, Miller scored 19 points, had four rebounds, four assists and five steals to lead the unranked Crusaders to a 57-39 win over No.5 Papillion-La Vista South. 

This game was named the biggest upset of the tournament by the Omaha World Herald’s Mike Patterson in a sports article.

Miller began to play basketball when she was in second grade and since then it has become one of her primary sports. 

During the off-season, she plays for the club team Nebraska Attack, which has helped her improve her play, preparing her for the high school season. 

At only 5’4, Miller plays point guard. “I like to play fast and apply lots of ball pressure on defense,” Miller said.

As the season progressed, Miller has made great strides on and off the court through hard practices, tiring conditioning and getting experience on the court. “In practices we work on plays, we work on part of the game we need to improve upon and prepare for upcoming games,” Miller said. 

Miller’s hardwork is very apparent. During her firstever high school basketball game she scored three points, compared to her last Marian regular season game against Papio South, where she shot 47%, had eight steals, two assists and 16 points.

Throughout this season Miller has crafted her role and shined on the team. Being a freshman can be intimidating sometimes but Miller is grateful for her coaching staff and teammates. “The team was so welcoming and they are lots of fun to play with, and the coaches push me to become a better player each and every day,” Miller said. 

As the basketball team continues their winning streak, their game day rituals continue. “On game days, we go over the scouting report and we cheer on the JV and reserve basketball teams,” Miller said. The team will compete in districts on Feb. 23.