Doc Self made Millennium's Saturday afternoon's lengthy drive from Goodyear to Gilbert a nightmare.

By the time Millennium found its equilibrium, it was too late. The visiting Tigers gave their best shot at the end in attempting to overcome the hometown Tigers, but fell short.

Self reeled off the game's first 11 points and hit for 19 of his game-high 27 in the first half leading sizzing Gilbert to a 64-53 win over Millennium in a 5A non-region matinee.

Gilbert won its seventh consecutive game to improve to 9-1 overall and 6-0 in power-ranking games. Its only loss was in its preseason tournament to Pinnacle. Millennium, another of the top teams in 5A, dropped to 8-4 overall, 6-1 prg.

Self, a 5-foot-10 senior point guard, put the hammer down on Millennium immediately. Self connnected on threes in his first three attempts and when he made a fourth bucket for an 11-0 lead, Millennium coach Ty Amundsen had to call time to regroup his troops.

Gilbert ended the first period with a 21-4 advantage. Nothing changed as the teams went to the half with Gilbert up 32-15. Self made 5 of 8 threes in the half. He had the looks he wanted in hitting those shots.

"He had open shots and he gets his shot off quick regardless," Gilbert coach Jay Caserio said. "His teammates were looking for him."

Gilbert's lead stretched to 44-21 with 3:42 left in the third period. The thought of completing a rout, however, disappeared quickly. By quarter's end, Millennium had shaved the lead to 48-36.

Led by a strong second half from sophomore guard Justus Jackson, Millennium increased pressure on defense and made things tense down the stretch. Jackson scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half and with 3:08 left Millennium trailed only 49-46.

To the rescue with big baskets came Gilbert post Carson Towt (13 points) with three buckets helping bump the lead to 58-49. Self scored five points in in the final 90 seconds to finish Millennium's comeback bid.

Jackson was the lone Millennium player to tally in double figures. Leading scorer -- 6-9 sophomore  DaRon Holmes - was limited to a season-low six points.