Tim Miller triumphant in return to Bob Jones

Hazel Green’s Chloe Long guards Bob Jones player Meredith Lovelady in action Friday night
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)

MADISON-  When Tim Miller left his teaching and coaching position at Bob Jones two years ago to fulfill a dream, he never thought he would be back at the school coaching another high school team.

His one year experience in college basketball didn’t work out at Alabama after Wendell Hudson was forced out and a new women’s basketball coach was hired. But he landed on his feet at Hazel Green and has the Trojan girl’s team playing the best basketball the school has seen in years.

“I think the kids have bought into the system and it’s been a huge turnaround from where they have been to where we are now,” Miller said after posting a 55-41 victory over Bob Jones on Jan 10 to run Hazel Green’s record to 20-3.

“It’s come together a little bit quicker than I thought. We are running a full court man defense. It feels good, I’m happy for our kids. It’s a gratifying win for our team and the girls who did transfer. I’m happy for them,” Miller said.

Last season the Trojans record was 3-20 and they were 0-6 in area play.

Currently, they are ranked fourth in Class 6A and are 3-1 in area play with games remaining at Buckhorn and Sparkman. The Sparkman game will likely determine who hosts the area tournament.

The roster has undergone a complete turnover since last season. Only four players remain from last year’s team. Three of them, Emilee Forster, Victoria Malone, and Rayven Pearson are starters.

Pearson is a force at center, Forster is the team’s leading three-point shooter, and Malone is one of the team’s top on-ball defenders.

Three major contributors to Hazel Green’s success are transfers from Bob Jones. Two of them led the team in scoring against Bob Jones, Chloe Long and Nadia Stewart each scored 16 points.

Long is a junior who is 6-foot-2 and just became eligible after the fall semester.

“She’s still trying to get her timing. It’s only her fifth game back,” Miller said of Long.

“We’re still trying to figure out some things with her with our team.”

Still, Long dominated on the inside in the third quarter when Hazel Green had their biggest lead at 48-26. Bob Jones was held to one point the first five minutes of the third quarter.

“We felt like we could go inside the whole game.” Miller said. Long had six rebounds and Pearson four. Hazel Green out-rebounded Bob Jones but only 34-30.

Hazel Green girl’s basketball coach Tim Miller

“Nadia played well for us tonight. She carried us the first half when Chloe and Rayven got in foul trouble,” Miller said.

Stewart had 14 points in the first half as Hazel Green forged a 10-point lead they did not relinquish the whole game.

Miller was assessed a technical foul late in the game for arguing calls by a certain referee.