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Mills has
found her way
For the first month-plus of the PSA basketball season restart, Jada Mills was trying to find her way with the girls’ Prep Black team.
She had just transferred in from Norwich Free Academy, she didn’t know the school, her teammates, the plays, pretty much all of it. As a result, she struggled to a certain extent on the court.
But she has certainly seemed to turn the corner over the Mustangs’ last five games, starting with her “welcome to prep basketball” performance in a 51-37 win over Greens Farms Academy in early March. In that game, Mills scored 19 points, pulled down five rebounds, dished out four assists, and had six steals to lead PSA to the win.
“That was my first time actually seeing her do what she can actually do,” said assistant coach Jasmyne Fogle. “I was waiting for her, I think we all were, waiting to see what she could bring to this team. Obviously with her just getting here and having no preseason or anything like that, it’s harder for her. But I think she presented herself well against Greens Farms, just showing that she can do a little bit of everything when she gets in the flow.
“That game probably surprised her as well, like ‘I can actually do this.’ I think it’s what she needed to get going. We were waiting for her to break out of her shell and she did that.”
Mills followed up with a big weekend this weekend, again contributing all over the court as the Mustangs dominated the King of the Hill Tournament in Pottstown, Pa., She had 22 points in the first game (an 80-12 win), followed up by four points, three assists, and two blocks in a 51-4 victory. She contributed 14 points and six steals in the semifinals, then 11 points in the final. Mills is a slasher-type who can get by her defender and finish in the paint. But she wants her teammates involved, too.
“I feel like I fit in because everybody on the team is a scorer and so am I, but I am looking for them first,” she said. “But I definitely feel comfortable getting in takeover mode if I ever need to because you need to win the game. “
So, while she feels more comfortable in her surroundings and in her place on this team, Mills is still keeping her eyes and ears open.
“Most of my teammates are older, faster, stronger,” she said. “They have more experience so I can learn so much from them.”
The whole group put on a show at the King of the Hill Tournament.
Yamani McCollough nearly had a triple-double in PSA’s 80-12 win March 13, finishing with 16 points, 10 steals, and eight assists. Ciara Bailey added 18 points, Sade Young 10 assists and six steals, Sarah Streete six points, six rebounds, and three steals, and Zaakyaa Young five steals.
The Mustangs won their second game of the with similar ease, beating Eastern PA Elite-Steliau, 51-4.
They were up to the task of dominating March 14 as well, doubling up their opponent behind McCollough’s 21 points and four steals in the championship game. In the semifinal earlier in the day, which PSA won 43-12, Zaakyaa Young chipped in 10 points and two steals.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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