Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Masen Miller didn’t need a strong start to his senior season to put himself in the conversation as one of the best shooters and top guards in the state.

The Regina point guard was already an all-state pick widely considered among the best players in Class 2A.

Mid-way through his final prep season Miller has built on an already stellar career resume while earning a reputation as a gamer that comes up with his best performances in the biggest moments.

Ten games into the season Miller leads 2A and ranks second in the state in scoring at 25.4 points per game.

The 6-foot-1 senior has been at his best in the Regals’ biggest games averaging 34 points in two-point road losses to Camanche and West Branch during an 8-2 start for the Regals.

“Two of our biggest games of the year were against Camanche and (West Branch) and he had 33 and 35 in those games,” Regina coach Jared Galpin said. “That is what great players do they find that next level and it doesn’t matter what they do defensively they are going to score and that’s exactly what he’s done.

Miller was a first-team all-state pick a year ago when he averaged 20.4 points and led the state with 99 3-pointers.

He has been even better through 10 games this season averaging 25.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game.

Perhaps more impressively, Miller does it all as the focus of every opponents’ defensive game plan while rarely coming off the court.

“I knew coming into the season I was going to have to be on the court a lot for us to be successful,” Miller explained. “I just worked with strength training and getting in the gym to condition and to get the cardio up and that has helped me stay on the court.”

A stronger and better conditioned Miller has been almost impossible to defend this season.

Miller is shooting 46 percent from the field including 43 percent from 3-point range (37-of-86) while hitting a career-best 81 percent from the free throw line.

“He’s a difference maker,” Galpin said. “He has prepped himself, he eats right, it’s the strength training he’s done for years now and he is taking care of his body and he just goes. He has another gear and he doesn’t get tired.”

Miller is coming off perhaps the best performance of his career in a 56-54 loss to West Branch on Tuesday.

While facing a box-and-one defense for nearly the entire game Miller had a season-high 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field that including an 8-of-12 performance from 3-point range.

Miller added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in the 56-54 loss.

“That kid is a heck of a player, for sure a top three guard in the state no question,” West Branch coach Jason Kern said. “We weren’t giving him any space and he was making shots.”

In games against Camanche and West Branch the senior guard has made 22-of-35 field goal attempts and 15-of-21 3-pointers while averaging 6.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

“He has drilled himself so much for this, that is what you are seeing now is his hard work paying off,” Galpin said. “Great players raise the level of their game in big games and that’s what he does.”

For Miller the goal is simple to return to the state tournament for the second straight season.

To do that the senior knows he will have to continue to step up his all-around game and believes he can do just that.  

“I kind of feel like I can elevate my game when I need it but it’s a credit to my teammate for getting me open and getting me the ball when I’m open,” Miller said. “We need to keep working on improving every day to get to where we want to be.”

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