Success part of the Millham basketball family

It was fitting that a slice of Millham family history came to a close on the biggest high school basketball stage in Missouri -- the Hearnes Center in Columbia.

It was there Ashley, the youngest of four basketball-playing daughters, scored a game-high 26 points in the championship game, a 56-52 loss to Duchesne that left Notre Dame a win short of back-to-back state titles.

It was a story-book season that went awry on the final page, but it couldn't diminish the events that preceded it. In fact, it revealed the heart of the Bulldogs' leader, lending insight into a remarkable season and how an unlikely run to the state title game came about.

"She hates to lose," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said. "I mean she really hates to lose."

Call it a family trait. Wherever Millhams have played, losses have been scarce.

It was a common thread that ran through the oldest, Michelle, over to Christa, down to Lisa and ultimately to Ashley, chosen this season's Southeast Missourian girls basketball player of the year.

Called upon to expand her role after the departure of three key seniors -- including Lisa -- the year before, Ashley was up to the challenge. One of two returning starters, Ashley moved to the point-guard position, increased her scoring, played top-notch defense and logged 32 minutes many nights -- more on one occasion -- to help turn a hangover year into a year to remember.

"I always knew she was capable of doing a lot more than she did," Grim said. "But before, she didn't have to. We've always had a pretty balanced team. Even this year she was our primary scorer, but still the other girls stepped up with her too. I knew she was capable of doing more. It just took a little while for everyone else to realize that they had to step up too."

Millham welcomed the increased responsibilities.

"I knew I'd be handling the ball more, but I love handling the ball," Ashley said. "Any place on the court is a good place to be for me."

Running the show from the point, she provided 20.4 points a game, five rebounds and a steady hand. After the Bulldogs started the season at 5-7, she helped Notre Dame to the SEMO Conference title and a 17-game winning streak that ended in Columbia.

Grim's biggest compliment to his senior leader was in his actions: He nominated Millham for Miss Show Me Basketball, the first time he's ever made that nomination in his 21-year tenure.

Sister act

Anybody who thinks a 4-for-4 day at the plate in baseball is great should check out the Millham 4-for-4.

All four of Craig and Carla Millham's daughters made multiple appearances in the final four, and all four were first-team all-state players.

"I've been very blessed," Craig said.

The patriarch might also have been speaking on behalf of his wallet. His daughters' basketball prowess earned three college scholarships. A fourth one could have been taken by Michelle, but she opted to attend St. Louis University, where she was a walk-on with the women's team briefly before concentrating on a physical therapy degree.

Christa played a year at New Mexico State before transferring to Missouri and then to Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

Ashley will be reunited with Lisa at Central Missouri State University next year when she joins the Jennies' basketball team. When last seen on a basketball court together -- last season -- the pair won a state championship.

Grim has coached all of the Millhams except Christa, who attended Jackson. Michelle attended Notre Dame as a freshman before transferring to Jackson, where she and Christa, a year behind, helped the Indians to three straight final four appearances.

"They all have the will to win," Grim said. "They all work hard. They're all good kids and good academically. And they all have very good fundamental skills, and sometimes that's something you don't find in a lot of kids coming out of grade school."

The fundamentals and court smarts find their roots in one source -- an athletically minded father.

Craig passed on knowledge acquired from one of the best coaches around. A 1967 graduate of Cabool (Mo.) High School, Millham played a year at Three Rivers Community College under coach Gene Bess. He practiced with the team for two seasons.

Craig coached all of his daughters at Immaculate Conception grade school in Jackson and during summers on an AAU team. He's also been an assistant to Grim twice at Notre Dame.

His daughters have always shared his love of sports, starting off in soccer but soon gravitating toward basketball.

"There's definitely been a push to play basketball, but it's not like we didn't want to do it," Ashley said. "It was a very good push. It was a good motivating factor."

The farm team

The Millhams own a farm between Cape Girardeau and Jackson, which served a dual purpose. Equipped with two basketball goals, H-O-R-S-E wasn't always an animal housed in a stable. One court is complete with a 3-point arc, an area of high proficiency for both Lisa and Ashley.

Lisa set the school record for career 3-pointers, while Ashley shot 49 percent from 3-point range over her career.

Once in gear, the Millham basketball machine perpetuated itself. Ashley and Lisa would shoot baskets or watch while their older sisters, coached by Craig, practiced or played games at Immaculate Conception.

"I definitely grew up in a gym," Ashley said. "We were at games all the time. It was a lot of fun."

As is often the case, younger siblings benefit from playing up in age against their siblings, who also impart valuable advice and inspiration. And older sibling talent often has a way of filtering down and collecting in the youngest.

"Ashley, to me, is the best of the bunch," Grim said. "Michelle was good, Christa was good -- those girls beat us enough times -- it just seems like the skills keep getting better. Because I guess not only do they work with their dad, but they work with their older sisters as they go through, too."

Ashley calls her sisters role models, ones who opened the exciting possibilities for her future.

"Whenever I saw them looking at playing basketball in college, it's like, 'I want to play basketball in college now,'" Ashley said. "It just sets goals for you. You see what they do. You see them doing it and enjoying it. I obviously thought it was appealing."

She followed in her sister's footsteps and left big imprints of her own.

"You could not ask for a kid that had a better work ethic," Grim said. "A kid that puts more effort into it during practice, before practice, summers. She's always working on it.

"It's going to be a long time before anyone is able to step in and take her spot. She could do it all."

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124