Both teams were rated in the Top 25 of the Ball is Life Fab 50 at the start of the season.  While both teams are very good, the focus will be on Bosco’s 6’6 senior Dylan Harper and McEachern’s “Ace” Bailey, a 6’9 senior.  Depending on the national ranking source, these two are the #2 and #3 players in the national Class of 2024.  The biggest surprise is that BOTH have signed to play at Rutgers for college ball.  However, there is no time to be friends when a game at the City of Palms Classic is on the line.

Bailey banked in a three to start the game and teammate Jay Nash did likewise to give McEachern a 6-0 lead.  Isaiah Brown of Bosco hit a three to get them on the board but then Jayden Bynes hit another three to give McEachern a 9-3 advantage with just two minutes gone in the first.  Keiner Aspirlla scored inside to get Bosco back into it.  Baily hit two free throws to make the score 11-5 but then Bosco went on a run.  They scored thirteen unanswered points, six in a row by Harper, to go up 18-11 with 2:23 left in the period.  McEachern got back to within three after two transition baskets, but Bosco wasn’t done, finishing the quarter with six unanswered to lead 24-15 after the first eight minutes.

Each team hit a three to start the second period.  That’s when Bailey went nuts for McEachern.  He hit a pair of threes to bring them to within three, 27-24.  Bosco responded and built its lead back to nine at 35-26 with just over four minutes remaining.  Bailey and McEachern kept coming and once again closed the gap to two, 35-33, with 2:42 to go.  The good times didn’t last as Bosco finished the half with a 5-0 run to go up seven at the break, 40-33.

McEachern got to within five, 42-37, with just under six minutes to play in the third period.  An 8-2 run by Bosco, featuring threes from Harper and Brady Loughlin, extended their lead to 50-39 with 3:22 left in the period.  It didn’t stop there.  McEachern struggled to score while Bosco continued to find the range from behind the arc.  In all, Bosco’s last six made shots in the quarter were all from behind the arc and their lead ballooned to 62-41 heading into the final period.

A 7-0 Bosco run pretty much hammered the nail in McEachern’s coffin.  The subs for both teams entered the game with Bosco up 75-47 with 2:20 left to play.  In the end, Don Bosco advanced with a 76-50 win.

Harper led Bosco with 28 points.  Brown added 15 points and both Loughlin and Aspirilla added 12 points.

To no one’s surprise, Bailey led McEachern with 24 points.