Backyard brothers

By Justin Robertson
LIKE most sibling duels, it started in the backyard.
For Cranbourne’s McMillin brothers – Justin and Jayden – it didn’t matter what the weather was like, a game of basketball on the dewy back lawn took precedence over schoolwork, television shows and sometimes even dinner.
They were usually cut-throat battles played out in the mud and most times the brothers would keep score. Justin claims to have dished out 100-point beltings, knocking down three-pointers at will. But as they got older the scores were tighter and the brooding rivalry became intense, he recalls.
Now, they take their basketball seriously but instead of beating each other to a pulp in their own backyard, they are dominating the courts in the Big V league playing for the Cranbourne Cavaliers and so far, are having a season to remember.
Over the weekend during the Cavs’ three-point loss to Darebin, their impact could not have been more clear-cut.
Jayden, 18, hit a team high of 25 points and 14 rebounds while Justin, 22, shot a valuable 14 points and pulled in eight rebounds. On the night they combined for 39 points out of the team’s 73 and 22 rebounds from a tally of 49. The weekend before against Melton Jayden hit a career high 31 points, 18 rebounds while older brother Justin accumulated 21 points and together they amassed 52 points from the team’s 72.
It’s the Cavs’ inaugural year in the Big V league and have taken time to adapt to the competition. Coach Cory Smith said he is happy with the way the side has improved over the course of the year, sitting seventh with four wins, but having the McMillin brothers on board has helped solidify the side tremendously.
With shooting and defence covered, it’s other off-court attributes that make these brothers such a well-rounded and vital pair of athletes for the Cavs.
Justin is a leader, a thinker. Jayden brings intensity and voice.
“I could be doing better this year, I’m not the fittest right now, but I’m leading the scoring so I guess I’m not doing too bad,” Justin said, adding he started playing domestic basketball when he was four-years-old. “I think we are going alright for our first year, after we get a few young players experienced we should go all right next year.”
Brother Jayden has been equally impressive since being elevated to the starting line and is showing he can mix it with the more experience players, by plundering a career high 31 points a few weeks ago.
“I’ve grown up playing basketball and that’s the only sport I know,” he said. “As many professional players say, it’s your sanctuary – you feel as if you can block everything out and not worry about anything else but basketball – that’s what I really like about the game.”