{"id":137545,"date":"2026-01-17T09:52:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T09:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/137545\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T09:52:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T09:52:19","slug":"millikan-boys-basketball-uses-late-run-to-push-past-long-beach-poly-press-telegram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/137545\/","title":{"rendered":"Millikan boys basketball uses late run to push past Long Beach Poly \u2013 Press Telegram"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Joseph Wicker (3) and Quali Giran (5) try to block Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kamarie Smiths (3) shot in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Christian Parron (21) tries to block Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jonas Owares (13) shot in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikans\u2019<\/p>\n

Millikans\u2019 Christian Parron (21) tries to shoot around Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jonas Oware (13) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jakobi Oware (4) tries to steal the ball from Millikan\u2019s Jalen Stewart (1) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Jeremiah Hunt (12) shoots for two as the Rams take on Long Beach Poly in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jonas Oware (13) puts the pressure on Millikan\u2019s Jeremiah Hunt (12) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kamarie Smith (3) shoots for two as the Jackrabbits take on Millikan in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jonas Oware(13) tries to get around Millikan\u2019s Christian Parron (21) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Isaac Hagens (23) shoots for two as the Jackrabbits take on Millikan in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Jeremiah Hunt (12) and Joseph Wicker (3) try to block Long Beach Poly\u2019s Nana Ofoegbus (2) shot in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Millikan\u2019s<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Jeremiah Hunt (12) looks to get past Long Beach Poly\u2019s Nana Ofoegbu (2) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jakobi Oware (4) tries to block the shot of Millikan\u2019s Christian Parrot (21) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Julian Calderone (5) shoots for two as the Jackrabbits take on Millikan in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Isaac Hagens (23) goes up for two as the Jackrabbits take on Millikan in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jonas Oware (13) shoots for two as the Jackrabbits take on Millikan in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Nana Ofoegbu (2) tries to get around Millikan\u2019s Jeremiah Hunt (12) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 16<\/p>\n

Millikan\u2019s Joseph Wicker (3) and Quali Giran (5) try to block Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kamarie Smiths (3) shot in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

LONG BEACH \u2014 The showdown for first place in the Moore League boys basketball standings was delayed but it did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

The game was tied at 36 heading into the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

The Rams drained five 3-pointers in the final period and outscored Poly by a 25-15 margin to secure a 61-51 victory at home Friday night.<\/p>\n

Millikan used an 11-0 run, led by freshman guard Quali Giran and senior guard Jeremiah Hunt, to seize control and take a 50-43 lead midway through the fourth.<\/p>\n

Senior guard Jalen Stewart\u2019s corner 3-pointer pushed Millikan\u2019s lead to 53-46 with less than two minutes to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not how you start, it\u2019s how you finish,\u201d Millikan second-year coach Stephon Price said.<\/p>\n

Millikan improved to 15-6 overall and 6-0 in the Moore League.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really good because we\u2019re aiming to finish 12-0 (in league),\u201d Hunt said. \u201cWe want to win Moore League.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hunt and Giran combined for 44 points. Hunt, a three-year varsity starter, scored 12 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter. He also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists.<\/p>\n

Giran scored 20 points, including consecutive 3-pointers to put Millikan up 45-43 midway through the fourth.<\/p>\n

Junior forward Christian Parron added 10 points and six rebounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole team is a big help for me,\u201d Giran said. \u201cI can\u2019t play this game by myself and this is a team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Center Jonas Oware, a 6-foot-9 senior who signed with Yale, led Long Beach Poly (14-7, 5-1) with 13 points and 14 rebounds.<\/p>\n

Senior guard Nana Ofoegbu had 12 points and six rebounds. Senior guard Kamarie Smith added 10 points off the bench.<\/p>\n

The Jackrabbits had 18 turnovers. The Rams went 15 of 15 from the free throw line.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to grow,\u201d Price said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t done anything yet. We have six more games in a tough Moore League, but I feel like this game was a big milestone for the program, for the school, for the team so we will continue to build from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sold-out game was delayed by nearly an hour due to scoreboard and clock issues in the preceding junior varsity and girls varsity games.<\/p>\n

In the boys varsity contest, the game clock and shot clock were announced to the crowd from the scorer\u2019s table.<\/p>\n

Poly senior guard Julian Calderone scored on a layup to go up 2-0 early. Giran\u2019s fastbreak dunk tied it at 2.<\/p>\n

Consecutive buckets by Giran put Millikan up 13-12 at the end of the first.<\/p>\n

Ofoegbu\u2019s backcourt steal and layup cut Millikan\u2019s lead to 28-26 at halftime.<\/p>\n

Hunt and Giran both had 10 points in the first half.<\/p>\n

Jonas Oware\u2019s putback closed the gap to 34-32 and he tied it at 34 all with two made free throws. Hunt\u2019s jumper made it 36-34. Hagens tied it at 36 at the end of the third quarter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that it was just we all trusted each other and our coaches trusted us,\u201d Hunt explained after his first career win over Poly. \u201cThey told us to keep shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hunt\u2019s 3-pointer put Millikan up 39-36 early in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Giran\u2019s 3-pointer cut it to 43-42. Giran\u2019s next 3-pointer put Millikan up 45-43. Hunt\u2019s 3-pointer made it 48-43.<\/p>\n

Parron\u2019s layup made it 50-43. Ofoegbu\u2019s three-point play cut it to 50-46 but Millikan pulled away late.<\/p>\n

Guards Jeremiah Hunt, Quali Giran and coach Stephon Price on Millikan\u2019s 61-51 victory at home over Long Beach Poly Friday night.<\/p>\n

Hunt and Giran combined for 44 points, including three 3-pointers during an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter. @jeremiah_hunt26<\/a> x @qualigiran2029<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WgRldEgo5p<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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