Lonnie Adkism, Datron Denmon power Miller past Corpus Christi Vets in District 29-5A championship

Seniors F Datron Denmon and G Lonnie Adkism — a Sam Houston State football signee — dropped a combined 44 points to help Corpus Christi Miller hold off a fourth-quarter rally and earn a narrow 69-67 victory over Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial in the District 29-5A boys basketball championship game

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Corpus Christi Miller Buccaneers' hot start to the 2022-23 season was nearly derailed in early December.

Miller lost several close games in quick succession, dropping to .500 overall after suffering through a skid that featured four straight losses in just a five-day period. 

The Buccaneers' rocky stretch came to an end with back-to-back defeats to Coastal Bend rivals: a blowout 22-point tournament loss to Corpus Christi Carroll and a four-point loss at home against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial.

After falling to the Eagles during the first week of December, however, the Bucs found a way to right the ship. They soon caught fire, winning 21 games in a row and notching an 8-0 record in District 29-5A play to capture the district's south zone crown.

On Monday night, Miller earned its chance at redemption in a duel against Corpus Christi Veterans, the district's north zone champion, in the 29-5A boys basketball district championship game.

The Bucs avenged their early-season loss against the Eagles, as senior guard Lonnie Adkism — a Sam Houston State football signee — and senior forward Datron Denmon combined to score 44 points to help Miller fend off a late rally and beat Corpus Christi Vets in a 69-67 win at Corpus Christi Carroll High School.

The victory extends the Buccaneers' now 22-game winning streak and secures the program's third consecutive district title after making the jump from Class 4A to 5A this season.

Miller trailed for most of the first half, gaining its first lead with 5 minutes remaining in the half. 

But once the Bucs moved ahead, they didn’t look back. 

Miller rode a strong wave of momentum throughout the second quarter to seize a 29-25 halftime lead with Adkism and Denmon leading the charge offensively.

During the second half, the Buccaneers extended their lead to 11 before finding themselves in foul trouble. 

Corpus Christi Vets clawed its way back into the game with a barrage of 3-points down the stretch of the fourth quarter that got Veterans back in the game, but it ultimately . 

The Eagles long-distance shooting was highlighted by freshman small forward Sean Mondragon, who scored 16 of his team-high 20 points during their fourth-quarter rally.

Adkism finished with a game-high 24 points for Miller, while Denmon added 20 to lead the Bucs' high-powered offense.

Corpus Christi Miller (25-5) secures District 29-5A's top playoff seed with the victory. 

The Buccaneers will look to keep adding to their 22-game winning streak when they face the Rio Grande City Rattlers (19-16) in the bi-district round of the Class 6A Texas high school boys basketball playoffs early next week.

Corpus Christi Veterans (23-10) will return to action against the La Joya Palmview Lobos (25-11) in the bi-district round of the 6A UIL boys basketball playoffs at a to-be-determined time, date and location early next week.

Check out SBLive's exclusive photo gallery from the District 29-5A boys basketball championship game:

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PHOTO GALLERY —CORPUS CHRISTI MILLER 69, CORPUS CHRISTI VETERANS 67

 All photos by Blake Purcell