Kwame Evans scored a team-high 18 points to lead the Montverde Academy boys' basketball team to a 56-51 win over Long Island Lutheran in day two of the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) Sunshine Classic at Montverde Academy on Friday evening at the Nest.
The game was very intense and neither team got their offense going in the early stages. The end of the first quarter, the Eagles led 15-14.
"I feel great about the win, I mean they came here they beat us in the first half and we just played hard in the second half to win the game," Evans said.
In the second quarter, Marvel Allen leads with an and-one for three points to put MVA up 18-14， After that, Long Island Lutheran ramped up defensive intensity abd went on a 14-0 run to take a 28-18 lead midway through the second quarter. Sean Stewart scored four points in the last thirty seconds to help the team regain confidence. The Eagles trailed 30-23 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Montverde Academy got back to form with six straight points to pull to within one via scoring streaks from Asa Newell and Cooper Flagg. Evans assisted Liam McNeeley for on a three-pointer to give MVA the lead back. By the end of the third quarter, MVA had a 42-41 lead.
Since the score of the game was not stretched, the defense of both teams was particularly tight at the beginning of the fourth quarter. MVA took the lead with free throws and steals. After Cooper Flagg's dunk, MVA fights back and led 51-44. Long Island Lutheran changed tack to recover the score 52-51, and Montverde was forced to request a timeout. McNeeley drives inside to give Monteverde a 56-61 lead with i10 seconds remaining, and the Eagles won.
Montverde Academy is now 3-1 this season and winners of three in a row after losing in the season opener.
"We were great at offense, made a lot of shots," head coach Kevin Boyle said. "Tonight we came out little flat, Our opponent came out very aggressive but we will take the win."
After the game, the school celebrated head coach Kevin Boyle's 800th career win.
The Eagles are back in action on Saturday evening for a game against Early Legacy College at 8:00 pm to wrap up the 2022 NIBC Sunshine Classic.
