Montverde Academy boys basketball head coach Steve Turner earned the 500th win of his high school coaching career on Friday as the Eagles defeated Gillion Academy 67-61 on day one of the Signature Series bracket at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers.
The win marked another milestone for Turner, who is in his first season leading MVAÂ after a 21-year tenure at Gonzaga College High School. The victory also pushed the Eagles to 3-3 on the season and extended their winning streak to three games.
MVA controlled the game from the opening tip, leading for nearly 31 of the contest's 32 minutes while establishing a physical presence inside. The Eagles finished with a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Dhani Miller led all scorers with 22 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, recording a double-double while consistently attacking the basket. Miller drew 12 fouls in the game leading to 14 free throw attempts as he anchored the Eagles' offense.
Joe Philon III added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Oneal Delancy finished with 11 points in the win. Off the bench, Derek Daniels contributed eight points and nine rebounds, providing key minutes in the frontcourt. Javion Tyndale scored seven points and helped Montverde Academy to a +17 scoring margin when he was on the floor.
Montverde Academy will return to action on Sunday at 4:15 PM when the Eagles face nationally top-ranked Prolific Prep in the Signature Series championship bracket.
