High school basketball: Milpitas takes another step forward, turns back Leigh to improve to 6-1

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MILPITAS — The top five scorers from last season’s 15-10 team are all back for Milpitas.

On Wednesday they provided another early-season example of a team poised to take that next developmental step with a 53-37 win over a Leigh team that was also off to a promising start to the season.

The Trojans improved to 6-1 with the one loss by a four-point margin to Elk Grove at a tournament in Sacramento.

“This year we’re a lot more confident at the end of games because all those guys are back,” Milpitas coach Champ Wrencher said. “A lot of times I don’t need to say anything. They already know what to do. It’s cool having leadership like that.”

Milpitas head coach Champ Wrencher gives instructions to his players against Leigh High during a nonleague basketball game at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

After a 9-9 first quarter Wednesday, Milpitas pulled steadily away from the visiting Longhorns, making 7 of 10 shots in the second quarter to go up by six at halftime and then opening as much as a 22-point lead in the second half.

“We’ve kind of cleaned some stuff up,” Wrencher said. “We took care of the ball really well. We had some possessions where we made five or six passes and were able to get what we wanted at the end of the shot clock with a mismatch, or one of our pick-and-roll guys having the ball up top.”

Shooting guard Dylan Nguyen led all scorers with 21 points.

“This year I’m way more confident,” Nguyen said. “I have no hesitation to take my shots. And also I’m not afraid to move the ball, try not to force shots I don’t need to force, trust my teammates.”

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“We’re not surprised,” Wrencher said. “We’ve seen him do this for a couple of years now. It’s only a matter of time until everybody else sees how good he is.”

Milpitas’ Jacob Wrencher (23) and Leigh’s Cooper Smith (10) battle for rebound during a nonleague basketball game at Milpitas High School in Milpitas, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Jacob Wrencher, the 6-foot-6 son of the coach and the team’s leading scorer last season, added 10 points. Returning starters Isaac Sisay, Lamont Davis and point guard Jordon North all had a hand in the victory.

Leigh (5-2) was still in contact at 29-24 after a 3-pointer by Adrain De La Nuez early in the third quarter before Milpitas went on a 12-0 run to break it open.

Wrencher started the run with a 3-pointer and Nguyen followed with a three-point play. North made a fastbreak layup, Nguyen nailed two free throws and Ziad Elkordy finished the run with a bucket off an offensive rebound.

Brody Le led the Longhorns with 15 points. Cade Robertson scored 10 and De La Nuez had.9 on three 3-pointers.