For the second time this season, the Prolific Prep boys' basketball team did several things no other team has done this season against Montverde Academy… give the Eagles a fight into the final minute, lead at halftime and lead at any stage during the fourth quarter.
But Prolific Prep did something every other opponent has done this season, they failed to beat the Eagles.
Montverde Academy made key buckets and got crucial stops when they needed them down the stretch, and in the end Montverde Academy earned a hard fought 78-72 victory over Prolific Prep in front of a standing room only crowd at the Nest in the championship game of the 2024 Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (MAIT).
The game saw 11 lead changes and five ties as both teams fought valiantly for thirty-two minutes. Neither team led by more than eight points in the contest, and both sides even had the lead for about the same length of time as both teams led for about thirteen and a half minutes.
MVA trailed 17-16 after the first quarter and 39-35 at halftime. Prolific Prep maintained its lead for the first six minutes of the third quarter. The Eagles first lead of the second half finally came with 2:01 to go when a dunk by Asa Newell put MVA ahead 51-50. By the end of the third quarter the score was tied at 58.
The Eagles had the lead for most of the fourth quarter. Prolific Prep retook the lead with 1:38 to go in the game to make the score 72-70.
A floater by Robert Wright with 1:23 to go tied the score. Then a shot clock violation by Prolific Prep on the ensuing possession gave the ball back to the Eagles with 53.9 seconds left. Wright connected on another lay-up with 43.0 seconds left to give MVA the lead for good. An offensive foul by Prolific Prep on the ensuing possession gave the ball back to MVA with 32.1 seconds left, before winning the game by six.
Liam McNeeley led the Eagles with 19 points, while Cooper Flagg had 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals. Wright finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Asa Newell added 10.
MVA dominated inside, holding a 44-29 advantage on points in the paint, and the Eagles, who forced the Crew into 17 turnovers, held a game changing 29-6 advantage on points off turnovers.
After a successful three day affair, Flagg was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Queen was named to the All-Tournament Team, and Lucas Lima, after his 180 degree highlight reel dunk on Thursday, earned the tournament's Monster Dunk Award.
MVA is now 22-0 overall this season, and the Eagles return to action on Thursday, February 1 for a game against Nike EYBL Scholastic foe La Lumiere in day one of the Metro Classic in Franklin Township, New Jersey at 7:00 pm.
