Skip to main content

P.O. Athlete of the Week: Charity Miller


The James Buchanan Lady Rockets currently sit 19th in the District 3 Class AAA girls basketball rankings, with the top 18 making the postseason.

And with a few challenging weeks of basketball ahead, it's good that the team's leading scorer has a hot hand.

Charity Miller looks to be the Rockets' go-to girl with important division games coming up. She's already started with a clutch 3-pointer with 12 seconds left on the clock to earn her team a Mid Penn Colonial Division win over Big Spring, and the Public Opinion Female Athlete of the Week honor.

Miller shot 7-for-11 from beyond the 3-point line that night, including the game-winner after the Rockets battled back from a deficit.

"It felt right coming out of my hands, but it didn't look like it was going in," Miller said. "It was a bank shot, but it went in and sealed it for us."

"We were down probably six or eight points with two minutes left to go, and we had been trying to get the clock stopped by fouling," James Buchanan coach Jen Lauthers said. "But when things looked like that was it, she hit a three for us and got us sparked."

Lauthers hopes that Miller can spark more than that, with important MPC games coming up.

"It's pretty much a requirement right now," Jen Lauthers said. "It's going to be a huge plus for us if we can get her on track early, and stay on track all week, and she's going to need the supporting cast there."

Like any player, Miller has had her ups and downs in the season - she scored 33 points one game, then was limited to eight points between two contests. But she said she tries not to let her slow games get into her head.

"She's a senior, so she has been there," Lauthers said. "She's one of our leaders and she's always trying to be in the right place in the right time. We're not sure how she gets there, she kind of slides in and moves in when we least expect it."

At 6-7 and 4-3 in the division, it's feasible for the Rockets to make an appearance in the playoffs, with Miller at the helm averaging more than 14 points per game.

"These next few weeks are very important," Miller said. "We definitely need to get it together. Doing better than last year is a big goal of ours, and it's my senior year and I want to be the best I can."

Charity Miller, James Buchanan

Sport: Basketball

Position: Guard

Grade: Senior

Size: 5-foot-8

Parents: Kathy and James Miller

Other interests: She also plays softball for James Buchanan.

Future plans: She wants to become a physical therapist, but has not decided on a college yet.

Favorite movie: The Blind Side

Favorite athlete: Stephen Curry

Statistics: Miller scored 25 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to lift the Rockets over Big Spring in a Mid Penn Colonial Division game Tuesday.