Milford Mill guard Tyson Smith didn't need any extra motivation Friday night facing his former team.

The senior transfer is staying entirely focused on helping the No. 5 Millers win a third consecutive state championship.

Smith made a crucial layup and three free throws in the final two minutes, helping the Milford Mill escape with a 63-56 victory over host Owings Mills in a rematch of last year's Baltimore County championship game. The Millers improved to 2-0 on the season after knocking off No. 14 Calvert Hall on Tuesday.

"Our team just put in a total effort," Smith said. "I tried to get off to a hot start. And when I came back in the game, I did the job. I finished the game, and that's what it's all about."

The game was played before a boisterous capacity crowd. The Eagles were also buoyed by the return of former player Kendall Adams, who graduated in 2008, and is now battling cancer.

Katrell Myers led Milford Mill with 19 points, and Isaiah Miles had 12. Carjahn Jenkins finished with 23 points for Owings Mills.

Owings Mills opened the season with three consecutive wins, thanks in part to its aggressive defense. The Eagles trailed 28-27 at the half. The Eagles then controlled the third quarter and took its biggest lead, 41-38 on a 3-pointer by Jenkins with just under two minutes in the third quarter.

Trailing by three midway through the fourth quarter, the Millers regained control on a dunk by Myers and a layup by Kyle Thomas. A basket and free throw by Myers gave Milford Mill a 55-54 lead with 2:36 remaining, and the Millers never trailed again.

"We did a lot of prepartion for this game," Myers said. "We didn't get started until the fourth quarter. We should have been like that from the beginning of the game. We have a good enough team to get the third straight title."

The game was tied eight times in the first half. A 3-pointer by Miles gave Milford Mill its biggest lead, 22-18, with 3:53 left in the half. But Owings Mills rallied behind the play of forward Deshawnte Lloyd and Renard Johnson and eventually tied the game at 25 with under two minutes remaining. Myers then gave the Millers back the lead with a layup in the final minute.

No. 5 Milford Mill 63, Owings Mills 56

M - Smith 9, Cormier 9, Watkins 7, Myers19, Thomas 7, Miles 12

Totals: 18-25-37

O - Eber 3, Yzirrary 1, Lloyd 9, Coit 4, Johnson 5, Jenkins 23, Johnson 9, Wilson 11. 

Totals: 18 15-26

Half: M: 28-27