VRP made the trip I-75 and I-4 to take on West Oaks Academy in a battle of founding SIAA programs.

Both teams came out sharp to open the contest as baskets and leads were exchanged multiple times in the nine-minute quarter.  Victory Rock had a one-point advantage, 12-11, at the five-minute mark.  Neither team could gain separation and it just felt like the team that had the ball last would win the quarter.  That is what happened and after one period of play West Oaks had a slim 22-19 lead.

The back and forth continued in the second quarter.  West Oaks could not increase its lead while VRP was unable to shrink its deficit.  When the media timeout came with five minutes remaining in the half, West Oaks still had just a three-point lead at 30-27.  Out of the break, West Oaks reeled off a 9-2 run, fueled by back-to-back threes, to grab a double-digit lead, 39-29, with three minutes left.  VRP shook off the shock but found itself down 44-36 at the half.

VRP slowly worked its way back into contention in the third period.  They extended their defensive pressure, and West Oaks began to struggle a bit at the offensive end.  With 2:20 left in the period, the West Oaks lead was down to one, 58-57 as VRP turned mistakes by West Oaks into points.  West Oaks took a timeout to get things settled down and that seemed to help.  West Oaks was able to keep its lead heading into the final period of play, but it was down to four points, 65-61.

Less than minutes into the fourth, VRP tied the score at 65-65.  At that point, West Oaks got together, patching together an 11-3 run to take a 76-68 lead with four minutes left in the contest.  VRP never got closer than 81-75 with a minute to play.  West Oaks would ultimately win by the score of 85-76.

West Oaks was led by 6’1 junior Antonio Baymon with a game-high 31 points, going 7-10 from behind the arc in the process.  Ibrahima Basima, a 6’7 senior, tallied 17 points while 6’3 senior Jayden Williams added 13 points and 6’0 senior Terrel James scored 11 points, surpassing 1,000 points for his high school career.

VRP was led by 6’3 senior Michael Wilson with 20 points.  Abibou Gaye, a 6’7 senior, added 16 points and 6’2 senior Noah Mister finished with 11 points.