Montverde Academy boys basketball's pursuit of history is alive and roaring!
In a game that demanded everything—poise, toughness, and relentless belief—the MVA boys basketball team delivered one of its most electrifying performances of the season, outlasting top seeded AZ Compass 68-67 in a double overtime thriller in the semifinal round of the 2026 Chipotle High School National Championship on Friday afternoon in Fishers, Indiana.
With the win, the Eagles are now just one victory away from securing an unprecedented ninth national championship.
From the opening tip, MVA showed it was ready for the moment. After a tightly contested first quarter that saw AZ Compass hold a slim 16-14 lead, the Eagles flipped the game in dominant fashion. MVA exploded in the second quarter, outscoring the Dragons 19-6 to seize control and carry a commanding 33-22 advantage into halftime. A 19-0 run from the latter stages of the first quarter, through the early stages of the second quarter put MVA in control.
But championship-level games are never easy.
AZ Compass stormed back in the second half, chipping away at the deficit. Their comeback effort finally paid off late, as they erased MVA's lead late in the fourth quarter and eventually forced overtime in a game that refused to settle for anything less than heart pounding.
The first overtime tested the Eagles' resolve. MVA found itself trailing and facing a two possession deficit twice. Both times, Dhani Miller rose to the occasion, knocking down back-to-back continuation three-pointers that kept the Eagles within striking distance and breathing life into their championship hopes.
Then came the second overtime—where toughness became the deciding factor.
Despite losing Joe Philon III to fouls with just over two minutes remaining, MVA refused to break. Instead, the Eagles dug even deeper. Key baskets down the stretch, paired with crucial defensive stops, allowed MVA to edge ahead and ultimately secure the dramatic one-point victory.
It was a team effort defined by endurance and grit. Four of MVA's five starters logged all 40 minutes (Philon logged 38 before fouling out in double overtime).
Oneal Delancy scored team-high 20 points and had five rebounds, Miller finished with a crucial 17 points by delivering some of the game's most clutch moments. He also had a team-high nine rebounds. Javion Tyndale added 15 points and dished out a team-high five assists, while Philon III contributed 10 points and four steals before his foul out out late in the second overtime.
The victory marks the third time this season that MVA has defeated the nation's No 1 ranked at the time. Earlier this year, the Eagles took down Prolific Prep 78-73 on December 21 when the Crew was the top ranked team. Then MVA beat Spire Academy 66-52 February on February 6 when the Ambassadors held the nation's No. 1 ranking.
Now, with momentum surging and history within reach, MVA turns its focus to the final challenge, a game against either No. 2 seed Dynamic Prep or No. 3 seed, Nike EYBL Scholastic champion, CIA Bella Vista on Saturday at 12:00 p.m., with everything on the line.
One game. One goal. One more chance to make history.
