Millennium girls basketball coach Courtland Rojeck has an interesting season in progress with a few returners and some new blood. That mixture looked pretty good Friday night as the Lady Tigers used a late surge in the third quarter to help furnish a 52-46 win over host Highland in a Division I game.

Millennium improved  to 7-0  overall and 2-0 in power-ranking games as the season closes out its second week. For the Lady Tigers that includes five wins and the championship of the Lady Padre Invitational last week at Marcos de Niza High School plus triumphs this week over Moon Valley and Highland. Millennium was the D-I runner-up last year, reached the quarters in 2014 and and was ousted in the round of 16 in 2013 l-- each time losing to Dobson.

Rojeck saw those he relies on heavily in the early stages of 2015-2016 -- particularly seniors Raina Perez and Adriana Zelaya -- come through in the clutch along with glimpses from a freshman contingent that likely will make Millennium one of the top teams come state tourney time. Two freshman start for Millennium. Guard-forward Dominque Phillips and post Alaina Diggs. Phillips scored nine points and Diggs six. Diggs played sparingly in the second half due to foul trouble. A third freshman -- Shyann Heredia contributed a three-point field goal in the final period.

Perez scored a game-high 20 points with her usual array of defensive-minded play leading to baskets, an occasional three and floor leadership from the point. Perez fueled a 7-0 over the final two minutes of the third period -- along with Zelaya -- to give Millennium a 38-27 lead after three periods. Zelaya finished with 12 points scoring her points in bunches (six in the first period and five late in the third.

Up until that point Highland (5-3, 1-1 prg) hung within five to six points despite cold shooting (6 of 30 from the field in the first half) on its home floor. Even with an 11-point lead heading to the final period, Millennium needed Perez to hit some free throws in the game's final two minutes after the Lady Hawks shaved the lead to 48-44 with 1:22 to play. Perez made five free throws in the final 1:52.

"We needed that run," Rojeck said referring to the closing foray of the third periopd. "That's what you expect from your senior leaders. But any time you play Highland and Coach (Miner) Webster you know you're in for a battle They are so disciplined in what they do. They're going to battle you to the end."

Highland was tied with Millennium 5-5 in the first game's opening two minutes, but had to take a timeout after an 8-0 run made it 13-5 with 5:12 left in the period. Over the next nearly eight minutes, Highland held Millennium scoreless, gradually tying the score at 13 with 6:26 before halftime. Those kinds of ups and downs were frequent in the game as its final period illustrated.

 Webster has 11 returning varsity players, but few have been deeply tested. They are getting challenged as the season has unfolded thus far. Guards Anna Grone and Hannah Cohrt tallied 17 and 10 points, respectively, to lead Highland.

"We played well in spurts," Webster said. "But there were times we didn't make free throws consistently or made a couple quick turnovers, or gave up an easy layup. Those are things you can't do against teams like Millennium."