In a thrilling and physical showdown, Montverde Academy boys basketball defeated Long Island Lutheran 65-59 on Saturday night on day two of the 2024 Nike EYBL Scholastic Sunshine Classic presented by Fountain Auto Group, showcasing resilience and poise in the game's final moments.

MVA  started slow, trailing 15-9 at the end of the first quarter. By halftime, they clawed their way back, tying the game 26-26.

"We tried to keep calm because we knew this was a big game so your heart's pounding a little bit,but we mostly tried to stay calm and keep the team together and make sure that we stayed solid," Allen said. "I think we were more solid with the ball in the fourth quarter. I think in the first three quarters we turned the ball over a little bit, and once we stopped turning the ball over, we were able to get some easy buckets."

The Eagles  took a narrow 46-44 lead at the end of the third quarter, setting up a nail-biting finish.

CJ Ingram came up big in the fourth quarter, hitting a clutch three-pointer to give MVA a three-point lead as tensions rose.

"It was a hard-fought game," said head coach Kevin Boyle. "We fell behind by nine early in the second half, but the guys hung with it and fought back to get back in the game. I thought CJ was really big for us, rebounding the ball and being all over the place competitively."

Ingram had an outstanding performance and finished with a double-double, contributing 15 points and 11 rebounds.

In the final seconds, MVA sealed the win at the free-throw line. Kayden Allen and Ingram each went 1-for-2, and Dante Allen added another free throw to finish with a game-high 17 points.

MVA's ability to execute under pressure highlighted their resilience, earning a hard-fought victory over a strong Long Island Lutheran team.

MVA is now 5-0 on the season and returns to the court next Sunday December 15 for the NBA Cup in Las Vegas against Brewster Academy at 4:00 pm.