The Montverde Academy boys' basketball team endured its toughest game of the season, but the Eagles still came out on top and remain undefeated this season!

Liam McNeeley scored a team-high 22 points, and Curtis Givens hit a clutch three point shot in the final minute, to help MVA hold off a stubborn foe in Prolific Prep, 76-71, in day three of the Hoophall Classic on Sunday evening in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Eagles remain undefeated at 18-0 on the season.

In Sunday's win, the Eagles found themselves in a peculiar position they have not been in so far this season, trailing during the fourth quarter. In a game that saw 10 lead changes, the Eagles were down by as much as three in the fourth quarter.

Tied at 69 with 1:27 to go, Derik Queen made a pair of free throws to give the Eagles a 71-69 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Prolific Prep missed a three-point attempt. Cooper Flagg garnered the rebound and dribbled the ball into the front court. He passed it to McNeeley on his left, who whipped a pass forward to a wide-open Givens in the corner who connected on the baseline three with just under a minute to go to give the Eagles a five-point lead.

MVA held the lead in the final minute before the buzzer sounded.

Behind McNeeley's 22, Queen added 18 points for MVA, while Flagg had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with five blocked shots. Robert Wright had 11 points in the win.

MVA will now return to Montverde for a four game homestand over the next two weekends. The Eagles are back in action this Saturday for a home contest against in-state foe DME Academy in the Nest at 7:00 pm. After that, MVA will host its annual Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (MAIT) from Thursday, January 25 through January 27. Tickets for the final homestand of the 2023-24 season are available now, but they are going fast. Visit https://gofan.co/app/school/FL1555 to purchase your tickets now.