It wasn't a big run. As tight as #3 McClintock's 5A boys basketball quarterfinal battle with #6 Millennium was progressing on Saturday night, it was huge.

The Chargers 8-0 run over a two-minute span late in the fourth quarter allowed enough breathing room for 64-61 victory over the Tigers ar Doc Zinke Gymnasium.

McClintock (24-3) heads to a semifinal contest Wednesday against #2 Gilbert. The teams met in late December in McClintock's invitational - the Holiday Shootout a team its very familiar with. Gilbert won that game, 77-74. McClintock's last trip to the semis was in 2019. Millennium, a perennial title contender, finished 17-7. The Tigers figure to return all but one of seven players who played significant time on Saturday - senior Reggie Orr. 

McClintock coach Sam Dentz certainly liked the ending and his team's resolve.

"I think we finished tough, like experienced players should," Dentz said. 

Four McClintock players produced double figures in points --  senior Pascal Volz with 19, senior Jaylen Wesley 15, junior Davion Butler off the bench with 13 and senior Javier Bermudez had 10. Five players combined to score the Chargers final 12 points. Millennium was paced by a game-high 23 points from Gabe Pickens and 12 from Orr.

McClintock trailed 55-52 with 3:37 to play after a putback by Orr. The Chargers game-deciding run was initiated with two free throws by Butler. A layup by Bermudez after Millennium missed a three-point shot put McClintock ahead for good. The run finished with the Chargers up 60-55 with 1:37 to play -- an EJ Scroggins pull-up jumper and two free throws by Wesley.

Orr sank a three to bring Millennium within 60-58 with 55 seconds left. A free throw each by Volz and Wesley made it 62-58. Pickens gave the Tigers a sliver of hope with a three (62-61 McClintock) with five seconds left. Millennium quickly fouled and Butler swished two free throws for the final advantage. Millennium couldn't get off a decent three as time expired.