The second game of the first day of Nike’s EYBL Scholastic Sunshine Classic features host school Montverde Academy taking on long-time league rival Wasatch Academy out of Utah. Montverde is in the unusual position of already having a couple of losses this early in the season but 6’2 senior Dhani Miller, a Kent State signee, and 6’6 senior Jayden Hodge, a Northwestern commit, are eager to get on a winning streak. Wasatch Academy features 6’4 senior and UConn commit Junior County and 6’3 Creighton commit Katrelle Harmon.
Miller of Montverde drained a three five seconds into the contest to put the Eagles on the board first. Vuk Lazarevic, a 7’0 senior, connected on two free throws for Wasatch on their first possession. Hodge scored two quick buckets for the Eagles and after a Derek Daniels putback, Montverde led 9-2. Five quick points for Wasatch, a three from County and a dunk inside by 6’7 senior Chidi Nwigwe got them back to within 9-7. A drive from 6’8 senior Joe Philon and a putback by Miller grew Montverde’s lead to 13-7 with under three minutes to play in the first. Wasatch closed out the period with a 6-2 run, highlighted by a baseline drive and slam by Nwigwe. After one quarter, Montverde led by just two, 15-13.
A drive and score by Wasatch’s 6’2 junior Mana Wintana tied the game nine seconds into the second period. The teams traded baskets until the six minute mark, which found Montverde up 21-19. At that point, Wasatch ripped off six straight points, four from 6’4 senior Mariano Manciel to grab a 25-21 lead. Montverde broke its drought with a bucket inside by Philon, but from there, Wasatch outscored the Eagles 7-3, the last on a three from 6’6 senior Jayden Johnson, to lead 32-26 at the break.
Hodge and Miller each scored buckets for the Eagles to get within 32-30 early in the third quarter. A three rom Manciel of Wasatch gave them a five-point lead. After a free throw and steal and score from Philon and a baseline bucket from Hodge, Montverde tied Wasatch at 35-35 with just over four minutes to play in the period. Wasatch re-took the lead at 39-37, Montverde then went on a 7-2 run, four of those from Hodge, to take a 44-41 lead with 1:32 left in the third. Wasatch tied it with a three from Harmon soon thereafter. Both teams connected on putbacks to end the third period and with one quarter left, it was all tied up at 46-46.
Wintana of Wasatch opened the final quarter with a three and 6’9 junior Lincoln Cosby answered with a bucket inside.
Then the wheels fell off for Montverde.
Wasatch reeled off a 13-0 run, holding the Eagles scoreless for almost four-and-a-half minutes. Nwigwe of Wasatch had six points in that run while County added the other seven. With 2:37 let to play, Wasatch was up fourteen, 62-48. The closest Montverde would get after that was 64-57 after a three from Miller. Wasatch would go on to win by nine, 68-59.
Wasatch was led by County with 14 points followed by Nwigwe with 12 and both Harmon and Wintana added 11 points.
Montverde was paced by Miller with 19 points. Hodge had 16 points and 6’3 junior Delancy Oneal finished with 10 points.