Miramar runs record to 13-1 on season

FORT LAUDERDALE — Miramar proved it’s for real on Tuesday night.

Powered by a 26-4 second-quarter run, the Patriots ran by back-to-back defending state champion Dillard 71-52 to improve to 13-1 on the season.

Senior guard Damian Miller stole the show, scoring a game-high 30 points, including six triples.

“[Miller]’s a special kid,” Miramar coach Tramaine Stevens said. “He has the ability to do that. We were just waiting for one of those breakout games. Today, he caught fire. He’s been in the gym by himself the last two days. I kind of challenged him over break, and he took on the challenge and carried us.”

For Miramar, Immanuel Crump added 13 points and Jamir Moore chipped in with 10 points. Deshawn Bartley led the Panthers with 12 points.

With the victory, Miramar snapped Dillard’s 36-game winning streak versus Broward County opponents. The Panthers’ last loss versus a county opponent came on Feb. 7, 2015, when they fell to Cardinal Gibbons.

Dillard (7-6) jumped out to a quick start in front of the home crowd, leading 19-9 after the first quarter. The Panthers extended their lead to 12 in the second quarter, but then Miller began to take over from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-5 guard knocked down five three-pointers and scored 19 second-quarter points in the decisive frame to give the Patriots a 10-point halftime lead.

“In my head, I was like ‘Keep shooting, don’t stop now. Why not? If it’s falling, keep going,’ ” said Miller. “[When you get in a rhythm like that] It’s like throwing the ball in the ocean. Keep shooting. Hopefully all of them go in.”

Miramar never let off the throttle in the second half either. The hot-shooting Patriots continued to push the tempo on the defending champs, running their lead out to as many as 21 points.

Standout Dillard guard Bryce Oliver, a Kentucky football signee who’s been dealing with some lingering injuries, sat out the majority of the contest but entered the game late in the third quarter to try and give the Panthers a spark. Oliver, who clearly wasn’t at 100 percent, finished the game with seven points.

The Patriots, who are 7-0 in district play, will return to court on Thursday against Pines Charter.