City of Palms Classic 2023: LuHi, Montverde move into final; Lyon County wins Signature Series
A roundup of the games played Friday at the 50th annual City of Palms Classic at Suncoast Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.
Long Island Lutheran turns up defensive pressure to advance to Saturday’s title game
Long Island Lutheran 76, Link Academy 63: Following a somewhat lackluster performance in Wednesday’s City of Palms Classic quarterfinal matchup with Don Bosco Prep, Crusaders coach John Buck had his players watch the film of the 58-55 victory for an hour.
“We were just not playing what we call LuHi basketball,” Buck said. “Give Don Bosco credit. But that was not up to our standard.”
The Crusaders’ players took that criticism to heart and delivered a virtuoso defensive performance in Friday’s 76-63 semifinal win over Link Academy (Mo.), the nation’s No. 3 ranked team.
LuHi (8-0), ranked No. 2 in the country, advances to face Montverde (13-0), the nation’s No. 1 team and a five-time City of Palms Classic champion in Saturday’s title game.
“Obviously they’ve been performing at an exceptional level this year,” Buck said of the top-ranked Eagles. “We’re excited for it. That’s what we came down here to do, play at 9 p.m. on Saturday and compete to win that game.”
To do so, the Crusaders will likely need to repeat the suffocating pressure they unleashed on the Lions Friday. LuHi jumped on Link from the game’s outset, holding the Lions (12-3) to just 2-of-14 shooting in the opening quarter to build a 22-6 advantage. That lead ballooned to as large as 24 points in the second half before Link, which never led in the contest, mounted a late fourth-quarter surge.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders moved the ball on offense with ease, scrambling the Lions’ defense and getting a number of open looks, thanks largely to the brilliant court vision of shooting guard V.J. Edgecombe. The nation’s No. 5 ranked senior played an outstanding all-around game, finishing with 17 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.
“He was awesome,” Buck said of Edgecombe. “He’s just a special, special talent and he was at his finest tonight.”
Edgecombe also took on the responsibility of defending Link senior guard Tre Johnson, holding the Texas commit to 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
Junior guard Nigel James added 13 points for LuHi, which also got 11 points and three assists from junior guard Kayden Mingo.
Senior forward Jalen Shelley, an Arkansas commit, had 13 points and six rebounds for Link, which will face Paul VI (7-1) in Saturday’s third-place game.
Derick Queen dominates inside and Liam McNeeley gets hot late to push Montverde to the final
Montverde 69, Paul VI 63: In a battle of unbeaten national powers, Montverde used its size and clutch 3-point shooting late to pull away from Paul VI and will have a chance to play for its sixth City of Palms title Saturday night.
The Eagles, ranked the No. 1 team in the country, improved to 13-0 while the Panthers, ranked No. 6 by ESPN, fell to 7-1.
“You're playing a really good team, and a well-coached team and a team that's used to winning, so you know, it's going to be a real fight and battle, and we played a little tentative and one area we still have to get better against is the 3-2, we kill 2-3s, we kill man to man,” Montverde coach Kevin Boyle said. “Against 3-2s sometimes we get a little tentative, and we get a little, not skipping the ball cross court and moving the ball enough, where we do a pretty good job against 2-3. We got to solve that against the 3-2s so we can get to that 85 number. We usually get to it and then you're up and then you win 85-62.”
The Panthers made the Eagles work to get open shots and Montverde committed 14 turnovers and scored less than 70 points for only the second time this season.
“I think they do such a great job of taking care of the ball, so I think we really created some disruptions at times,” Paul VI coach Glenn Farello said. “And you know, I think just again, we competed with our defensive intensity and our defensive ability today.”
Paul VI had taken a 49-48 lead with 6:48 left on a Jordan Smith Jr. jumper, but Indiana signee Liam McNeeley answered with a 3-pointer to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish.
Baskets by Cooper Flagg and Derick Queen followed and after the Panthers’ Isaiah Abraham hit 1-of-2 free throws, McNeeley buried another 3 to make it 58-50.
Paul VI Ben Hammond (14 points, 5 assists) scored his team’s next 6 points as they pulled within 60-58 with 1:28 left and his sweet pass to Smith for a layup made it 62-60. But McNeeley, who finished 16 points including 4 3-pointers, struck again with another 3 with under a minute to play to put the game out of reach.
“I told them, step up and make a shot, I might step and make a shot. Shoot the ball and play it out as if you're losing or you end up losing,” Boyle said.
Paul VI led 21-18 after the first quarter as Adlan Elamin buried a couple of 3-pointers and Jaquan Womack converted a putback for a 21-18 Panthers advantage.
Flagg (10 points) quickly tied the game with a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and the teams traded missed shots and turnovers over a scoreless two minutes. The teams traded baskets and remained tied at 25-all into the last 3 minutes.
That’s when Queen took over for the Eagles and the Panthers fell cold.
The senior scored Montverde’s final nine points in the half on a series of putbacks and dunks and had 15 of his 20 points in the first half as Paul VI had no answer for the 6-foot-10 forward in the post. Powered by their big man and frontcourt mate Asa Newell (8 points, 8 rebounds for the game) the Eagles took a 36-30 lead into the break.
“He's a fantastic player, we knew that going in,” Farello said of Queen. “We've known him for a long time, he comes from our area, so he's a heck of a heck of a player for sure. And he really did a good job of controlling things around the rim. He was a big difference in the game.”
Travis Perry powers Lyon County to Signature Series title
Lyon County (Ky.) 93, Buckhorn (Ala.): Keeping up with Travis Perry and the rest of the Lyons proved to be an impossible task for the Bucks in Friday’s Small Town Signature Series title game.
The 6-foot-1 Perry, Kentucky’s all-time career scoring leader, poured in a game-high 40 points on 15-of-22 shooting, including 7-of-11 from 3-point range, as Lyon County cruised to the championship.
Buckhorn (13-4), the defending Alabama Class 6A state champion, had no answers for the Lyons’ up-and-down style of play, especially at the outset. Lyon County shot a sizzling 70.4% in the first half, opening a 51-28 lead at the break.
“You can watch us play on film here and there but until you’re playing us and see exactly how fast we play and how quickly we’re getting shots up, it’s hard to appreciate that,“ Lyons coach (and Travis’ father) Ryan Perry said. “I think both of the teams we faced, it took them a bit to catch up to what we were doing.”
Travis Perry said Lyon County’s success at the Classic will help the team in its quest to make a deeper run in Kentucky’s single-classification state playoffs. The Lyons have reached the Sweet 16 each of the past two years.
“Coming here and playing against the best teams from other states, those are big-time games for us,” said Perry, who’s committed to play for his home-state Wildcats. “To play against that type of competition and to do it on the big stage, this is really good for us. I’m really proud of the way our guys stepped up and hopefully, this can propel us forward.”
Senior forward Brady Shoulders, a Tennessee-Martin commit, added 21 points and seven rebounds for Lyon County, which also got 11 points and 13 assists from senior guard Jack Reddick.
Sophomore guard Caleb Holt, ranked No. 2 in the nation by ESPN, had 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Bucks.
Perry, who also scored 30 points in Lyon County's 74-50 victory over Lexington (S.C) Wednesday, earned City of Palms Classic All-Tournmaent team honors.
Strong shooting day earns IMG spot in Saturday's game for fifth place
IMG Academy 83, Archbishop Stepinac (NY) 66: Every IMG player who shot the basketball on Friday connected at least 50 percent of the time.
The Ascenders went 31-of-46 as a team, though the matchup against Archbishop Stepinac wasn’t without its challenges.
IMG hit a lull in the second quarter that carried into the third, and the Crusaders were able to get the lead with a Danny Carbiccia 3-pointer.
“They went to a zone, and we were kind of just stuck in quicksand,” IMG head coach Sean McAloon said.
McAloon subbed in Cole Certa and Felipe Quinones, who were able to help facilitate the offense more efficently. Stepinac, limited to 4 points in the first quarter, was able to get back into the game by scoring off IMG turnovers.
“We woke up again and started sharing, finding guys wide open and we were able to get easy buckets,” McAloon said.
Darius Acuff Jr. led the Ascenders with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Syracuse commit Donnie Freeman added 23 points, while Michigan commit Khani Rooths scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
Kentucky recruit Boogie Fland led the way for Stepinac, scoring 25 points in addition to 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.The Ascenders have a considerable test in front of them, facing off against Don Bosco and the electric Dylan Harper, who scored 38 points against Columbus, for fifth place.
“Dylan’s a savage,” McAloon said. “Damn near had 40, so we have to make sure we try and limit his opportunities, but they’ve got other guys that can make plays.”
Dylan Harper's late-game heroics lift Don Bosco over Columbus
Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 79, Columbus 74: At the third quarter buzzer, Dylan Harper drained a deep 3-point shot.
It would suggest, as he proved in the game’s final minutes, that the junior point guard thrives in these moments on these stages – facing a highly ranked team in the fifth-place semifinal at the City of Palms Classic.
Trailing by 9 points in the fourth quarter, Harper zeroed in and made bucket after bucket to bring the Ironmen back and then some, showing versatility in his playmaking ability.
“Every day he gives us everything he’s got,” Don Bosco head coach Kevin Diverio said. “He’s a kid we can always go to just to create - he can create his own shot, he creates for teammates, rebounds both ends. Obviously, a special player and we lean on him every single game.”
Harper finished the game with 38 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, which came in important moments. He was 4-of-8 from beyond the arc and a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line.
“It was great,” Harper said. “My teammates helped me honestly spread the court out and let me work. Before they game, they told me they’re going to put me in positions to be successful. For me, just trying to make the best play I possibly can – that’s the biggest thing for me.”
The Explorers erased a 36-25 halftime deficit with twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer making big plays to get out in front. Cameron Boozer led the team with 30 points and 11 boards.
“We knew we had our hands full today – unbelievably talented team,” Diverio said. “I’m just really proud of our guys, the way they executed, the effort they put forth. Every kid who stepped on the floor gave us a positive contribution.”
That included Malik Sheppard, who came off the bench to play some huge minutes on defense for Don Bosco.
“To me, he flipped the game defensively, like changed the energy and, for us, defensively, they had two quick turnovers,” Diverio said. “We either got five or six points out of that, and then we were back in the game.”
Columbus committed 17 turnovers, compared to 11 for the Ironmen.
Friday’s early games were likely a treat for Rutgers fans after Ace Bailey posted 43 points and 19 rebounds in McEachern’s win earlier in the day.
His future teammate Harper said his phone was “blowing up” after that performance this morning.
"That was crazy," he said.
Don Bosco will go up against IMG Academy in the Fifth Place Championship game on Saturday.
Beating Columbus will certainly give the group plenty of confidence.
“I think this is huge for our program just moving forward through the season – that they know, 'All right we can compete with elite teams,' and hopefully it helps us come state tournament time,” Diverio said.
Charlotte struggles against Lexington
Lexington (SC) 78, Charlotte 30: Kaleb Evans and Texas commit Cameron Scott combined for 43 points as Lexington handed Charlotte its worst lost of the MaxPreps era during the third-place game of the Signature Series.
Charlotte opened the game with a Jordan Attia 3-pointer off the tip, but turned the ball over on five of its next six possessions. Lexington pounced with a 12-0 run and never looked back.
The Wildcats (10-1) led by as many as 50 during the running-clock fourth quarter as both teams emptied their benches. Evans finished with a game-high 22 points while Scott tacked on 21.
Charlotte (4-4) was led by Chris Cornish, who finished with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The 48-point loss eclipsed the Tarpons’ previous worst loss of the MaxPreps era – a 68-30 loss to Bartow on Jan. 17, 2009.
Isaiah Evans leads North Mecklenberg in comeback effort
North Mecklenberg (NC) 70, Milennium (Az.) 62: The Vikings recovered from scoring just 8 points in the second quarter to author a comeback in a consolation semifinal matchup.
Duke commit Isaiah Evans scored 30 points, along with 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Trey Maxwell added 17 points.
The Vikings dominated in the paint, outscoring the Tigers 32-18. They were also strong in transition, putting up 21 points in fast breaks.
Cameron Holmes and Kingston tosi led Milennium with 15 points each.
Rutgers-bound Ace Bailey continues to wow at City of Palms
McEachern (Ga.) 97, Cannon School (NC) 66: Ace Bailey locked up his City of Palms All-Selection spot with his performance on Friday morning.
The 6-foot-8 Rutgers commit dropped 43 points on Cannon School, leading the Indians to a 97-66 win in a consolation semifinal. Bailey also posted 19 rebounds and 5 assists.
McEachern led comfortably the whole way and even put up 32 points in the fourth quarter. Jaye Nash had the second double-double on his team, posting 12 points and 14 assists.
For the Cougars, Isaiah Henry led his squad with 17 points.
Kaleb Evans and Texas commit Cameron Scott power Lexington
Lexington (S.C.) 78, Charlotte 30: Kaleb Evans and Texas commit Cameron Scott combined for 43 points as Lexington handed Charlotte a loss in the third-place game of the Signature Series.
Charlotte opened the game with a Jordan Attia 3-pointer off the tip but turned the ball over on five of its next six possessions. Lexington pounced with a 12-0 run and never looked back.
The Wildcats (10-1) led by as many as 50 during the running-clock fourth quarter as both teams emptied their benches. Evans finished with a game-high 22 points while Scott tacked on 21.
Charlotte (4-4) was led by Chris Cornish, who finished with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
City of Palms Friday scores
Long Island Lutheran 76, Link Academy (Mo.) 63
Montverde 69, Paul VI 63
Lyon (Ky.) 93, Buckhorn (Ala.) 64
IMG Academy 83, Archbishop Stepinac (NY) 66
Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 79, Columbus 74
Lexington (SC) 78, Charlotte 30
North Mecklenberg (NC) 70, Milennium (Az.) 62
McEachern (Ga.) 97, Cannon School (NC) 66
City of Palms Saturday schedule
11 a.m. - Challenge Round - Westminster Academy vs Archbishop Ryan (PA)
12:45 p.m. - Challenge Round - Mariner vs Richmond Heights (OH)
2:30 p.m. - Consolation Championship - North Mecklenburg (NC) vs McEachern (GA)
4:15 p.m. Fifth-Place Championship - Don Bosco Prep (NJ) vs IMG Academy
7 p.m. - Third Place Game - Link Academy (Mo.) vs Paul VI (Va.)
9 p.m. - Championship Game - Montverde vs Long Island Lutheran
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: City of Palms 2023: A roundup of the action played on Friday, Dec. 22
