Miller quartet takes next step

Miller’s girls basketball faces a tall task next year — they’ll have to replace four players who have futures tied to college basketball.

Four Mavericks players — Alex Tamez, Christine Nyobe, Jaime Fleming and Cassie Kirby — will all head to the next level.

The quartet of Mavericks played a big part in Miller’s run to the No. 1 seed in the state tournament that eventually ended in a loss to Carlisle in the state semifinals despite a 29-point outburst from Fleming.

Fleming, who earned honorable mention all-state honors, will head to New Mexico Military Institute for a prep year before matriculating at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in New York.

“The opportunities after I graduate, almost no other college can really compare to it,” Fleming said. “I’m set with a job and the education is amazing.”

The style of basketball fits Fleming, too — she’s a prolific shooter who can light it up from beyond the arc.

Kirby, a versatile player, will head to Coker College in Hartsville, S.C.

“I get to play post and guard, which is fun for me,” Kirby said. “They kind of remind me of our team here — they’re crazy and they like to have fun but they’re still serious about basketball and wanting to win.”

For Tamez, a defensive stopper, her next stop is all about location. A year after playing basketball three hours from home at Miller, he’ll head to Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W. Va., just 45 minutes from her home town of Berkeley Springs.

Nyobe, who also earned honorable mention all-state honors, is a native of Cameroon who will play Division I basketball at South Carolina-Upstate.

Fields named coach of the year

Tandem girls basketball coach Gordon Fields picked up a big-time postseason honor recently. Fields was named the VIS Division III coach of the year.

The Badgers’ run in the Division III semifinals ended at the hands of eventual state champion StoneBridge.

Harlow heads to EMU

Louisa County baseball player Casey Harlow has secured his plans for the next four years. The senior will play at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg.

Harlow, a two-year varsity starter for the Lions, will pitch for the Royals next season. In fact, one of the reasons Harlow chose EMU was because of the possibility of playing right away. He also drew interest from Bridgewater and Virginia Wesleyan.

“I’m excited. I’m just hoping to get some playing time,” Harlow said. “That was a big thing, and just having the chance to play college baseball is always a dream of any high school athlete. Getting my education is the main thing, but playing baseball is a big plus.”

And the Royals know they are getting a big plus in Harlow, a right-hander who has mainly pitched in relief at Louisa and also plays first base.

“He gives depth to our pitching staff,” said Eastern Mennonite assistant coach Dave Ramsey. “We’ve been very competitive in ODAC games this year, but have fallen short because we ran out of arms. We’re just happy to have him.”

Added EMU head coach and former Monticello coach Mark Mace in a press release: “He brings with him upside and potential that will help us get to where we need to be. His arm will be a welcome addition to our staff, not only from a depth perspective, but from his ability to grow into his body and become a solid starter on our staff.”