Maurice Miller calls Whitehaven loss a “learning curve”

<p><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Maurice Miller knew how tough of a matchup Whitehaven would be when the game was inked onto the Arlington Tigers 2019-20 schedule.</span></p> <p>But, Miller also knew the importance of playing a team that’s going to prepare his group for a deep postseason run.</p> <p>Arlington found out firsthand what type of competition it is going to play throughout this season Tuesday night inside a hostile environment. Before the Whitehaven Tigers went on a long scoring surge in the second half, the Arlington Tigers had a short moment where they held a 28-23 lead early in the third quarter after a made basket by junior guard <strong>Madison Peaster</strong>.</p> <p>Before Peaster’s score, sophomore forward <strong>Dontae Stringer</strong> scored on consecutive possessions that was followed by a half-court heave by sophomore guard <strong>Phil Dotson III</strong>. That was part of a 12-0 run, but the guards of Arlington couldn’t stop turning the ball over, resulting in a 68-49 defeat.</p> <p>Stringer was the only player for the Arlington Tigers to score in double figures. He finished with 15 points.</p> <p>As a team, Arlington committed over 40 turnovers, and Whitehaven took advantage of them. Peaster picked up his third foul early in the third quarter, which took the offense out of rhythm for good since he was the team’s best option at point guard for the most part.</p> <p>“When Madison got into foul trouble early, that really killed our entire dynamic of things,” Miller said.</p> <p>The Arlington Tigers didn’t get to the free throw line a lot on Tuesday night. Arlington made just two trips to the charity stripe in the first half and six in the second half when the game was already out of reach.</p> <p>The Arlington Tigers will have to clean up the turnovers and take better care of the basketball if they want to be one of the top teams in Class AAA.</p> <p>“Ideally, this couldn’t be a better game for us,” Miller said. “We stayed in, but we had over 40-something turnovers tonight. Literally, every guard I have had at least four. Even when we were still in the game, those are things we can control.</p> <p>“It’s all about really learning, so bringing them here, putting them under that type of pressure, knowing the way Whitehaven plays, this was the best possible test I feel I could have gave my guards early.”</p> <p>Miller is really trying to put his team to the test. Arlington has Tipton-Rosemark Academy on the schedule next. The Rebels were last season’s Division II Class A state runner-up. TRA will be led by junior wing and South Alabama commit <strong>Alex Anderson</strong>. The Rebels also have junior point guard <strong>Cam Donegan</strong>, who’s new to the team after transferring to the school from Ridgeway High School.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>