After a fourth place finish in the Moore League last year, the Millikan Rams are looking to improve with a new squad this season. Millikan graduated four of their five starters, so the team will look a little different this winter.
“I think that we are new Rams,” Senior Ky-lliyah Clardy said. “I think we’re ready for this year. I think we’re bringing something to the table that we haven’t before.”
Legendary Head Coach Lorene Morgan is returning for the Rams once again in her 35th year of coaching. While she lost some valuable seniors last year, she also has some experienced players on her roster again combined with some younger faces that are looking to make some noise.
“Coach Morgan is one of those coaches she’s determined to get whatever you need,” Clardy said. “She’s our push.”
Clardy is an All-Moore League Second Team guard who is back for her final season wearing Millikan’s uniform. Morgan said Clardy brings valuable experience and good energy to the team.
“She’s consistent. She’s always there. She is one of the motivating factors for you on the court,” Morgan said.
Clardy leads the team vocally, both on and off the court, Morgan said. Fellow senior Jeranay Henderson joins Clardy on the floor as one of the more experienced Rams.
“Good, you know, rough and tumble person,” Morgan said. “She’s physical, doesn’t have any problems being physical, and just will be a force and presence inside for us.”
Junior Charlie Warner and seniors Berlin Stonis and Katelyn Torres will be seeing good minutes for Millikan too. The Rams also have a good class of 2028 ready to start working, as well.
“We’ve got some great freshmen that are going to contribute and get some experience, a little bit of experience their first year, getting out there,” Morgan said.
Morgan’s hope for her team aligns with those in the rest of the league: win it all. She knows this will definitely be challenging, especially when facing powerhouse opponents in Lakewood and Long Beach Poly.
“We always hope we are going to win at all, you know, it’s going to be competitive,” Morgan said.
However, Morgan knows this will only be possible if her team takes every day one at a time. If they work hard each day, they know they will improve.
“We have to grind it out every day, and we expect to get better every day,” Morgan said. “With that, we expect to get better from every game, and we expect to compete in every game.”
Clardy said this all comes with the mindset her team has. Sure, the team may be new and look different, but they know they are still capable of getting some big wins.
“Even though we may look like we can’t go far, if we have the right mindset, we can make it far,” Clardy said.
As Millikan works to get some new success, they face a few tough challenges along the way. The Rams started the season 2-0 with wins over Rancho Dominguez and Anaheim, but have evened out at 2-2 after back-to-back losses to Glendora and Crean Lutheran. Millikan will kick off Moore League play when they host Long Beach Poly on Dec. 13.
