Sometimes going from a sophomore to a junior can be the biggest developmental jump in scholastic athletics, bigger than going from a freshman to a sophomore or going from a junior to a senior.

The game seems to slow down. Individuals take on more leadership responsibilities. And players grow into their bodies.

Rachel Miller has certainly elevated her game this season, and the most logical explanation for her improvement is going from a sophomore to a junior.

Last week, Miller led the Cedar Crest girls’ basketball team to the championship of the Eastern York Holiday tournament, and while she was doing it, the 11th-grade guard picked up the event’s most valuable player award along the way.

During the Falcons’ 48-42 overtime triumph over Susquehannock in the final game of the event, Miller connected on three three-point field goals and poured in 15 points. Miller tallied half of her team’s points in the extra session, as Cedar Crest outscored Susquehannock 8-2.

The night before, Miller went for four three-pointers and tallied 18 points during Cedar Crest’s 54-49 shading of host Eastern York.

Partly because of Miller’s stellar performance, Cedar Crest is off to a surprising 5-2 start to the season. Averaging 11.8 points per outing,  Miller is currently stands third among female scorers in Lebanon County.

– Jeff Falk