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by Christopher Lawlor FORT MYERS, Fla. – Maybe there will be more of a test on Friday afternoon for top-seeded Montverde (Fla.) Academy. The Eagles didn’t get on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the GEICO High School Nationals. The blowout wins are usually reserved for cupcakes on the Montverde’s busy early schedule. But in April? And at a tournament they have won four times? Hardly. Yet that was case when the Eagles hammered Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 85-64, in the Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Once the game progressed into the second half it was apparent the Eagles…

by Christopher Lawlor FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kendall Brown and Kennedy Chandler are McDonald’s All Americans for a reason and it starts on defense. Sure, two of the nation’s top players, both headed to high-major programs in Power-5 conferences, can score the basketball but what about when the game is one the line? Well, the dynamite dup of Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) came to the rescue late in the fourth quarter when the Buffaloes season was headed home. Key defensive stops led to a scintillating 56-55 thriller over seventh-seeded Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) Thursday in the quarterfinal round…

by Christopher Lawlor FORT MYERS, Fla. — Nate Bittle of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) has put up more dynamic numbers in high illustrious high school career but Wednesday night’s stat line of eight points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots do not begin to paint the picture for the 6-foot-11 beanpole from rural southern Oregon. Bittle, a McDonald’s All American, was every bit the hero on the defensive end but needed help from his Eastern European teammate Stefan Todorovic. Bittle earned player of the game honors but Todorovic tossed in a team-high 12 points and Prolific managed to held off…

by Christopher Lawlor FORT MYERS, Fla. – When Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) is scoring points that means a breakneck style of play is percolating. Yes, the Warriors are accustomed to the up-tempo offense and high-pressure defense to fuel the attack. Usually, the in-your-face defense feeds the offense. And for spurts on Wednesday night, it was the Warriors of old that emerged. There were crevices in OHA’s game and on at least three occasions Pace Academy (Atlanta, Ga.) might have taken a lead or at least tied the game. Yet, the Warriors were about to get eliminated in…

By Christopher Lawlor NEW YORK – The feeling was palpable throughout the room. Somewhere in a distant gymnasium and meeting room, the basketball axiom that defense wins championships rang loud and clear. Coaches could care less about points unless they have more in the score book than their opponents. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) pleased many a coach Saturday afternoon when it defeated top-seeded La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), 66-55, in the 11th GEICO High School Nationals final at sold-out Christ the King High School’s Father John Savage Memorial Gymnasium. “Everybody talked about our talent, talent, talent but these guys…

By Christopher Lawlor NEW YORK – New Hope Academy of Landover Hills, Maryland left no doubt: National Champions. In perhaps the greatest field ever assembled for a girls’ basketball postseason tournament, the Tigers were on the prowl and prevailed on Saturday morning. New Hope is a relatively new team on the national scene and in less than two years, the Tigers are atop the girls’ hoop planet. Please, point the index finger skyward because New Hope Academy is No. 1. That’s the facts and no one can deny it. Sticking to the basics with all players buying into a blue…

By Christopher Lawlor NEW YORK – La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) survived Friday. It’s hard to script the finish of the Lakers’ thrilling 58-57 cliffhanger over fourth-seeded Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) in the GEICO High School Nationals semifinals at Christ the King High School’s Father John Savage Memorial Gymnasium. When you dissect the final 22.4 fateful seconds, it was schoolboy basketball at its very peak and a Cinderella ending that was born out of the New York City but scrapped when Cam Thomas’ 15-foot baseline jumper clanged off the rim as time expired for Oak Hill.…

By Christopher Lawlor NEW YORK – IMG Academy of Bradenton, Florida just entered uncharted waters: The nascent program is one win from a National Championship. It came out of nowhere Friday afternoon. Actually, it was a stunner considering the opponent and the circumstances. First, the scene and the situation. Defending champion Montverde (Fla.) Academy was cruising and led by 16 points at the start of the fourth quarter. It should not stun anyone but again the opponent was nationally ranked and now cross state rivals IMG. There is something to be said about a team that is steadfast when staring…

By Christopher Lawlor NEW YORK – When in doubt lean on Azzi Fudd. If you didn’t that would have been a shame because when the nation’s top schoolgirl is in your lineup that’s your go-to player with the game and more on the line. Fudd, the 5-11 All-American, was the given the chance to win it for St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) Friday afternoon with the score tied at 61. Once Fudd took the inbounds pass, she was bumped with 8.3 seconds. Calmly, coolly she drilled both free throws but the Cadets weren’t off the hook. SJC needed all the…

By Christopher Lawlor NEW YORK – Ask Sam Caldwell about the significance of buying into team defense. “We have players with skill sets at both ends of the floor; you have to buy into defense if you want to win championships. The girls and our coaches take a lot of pride in the defense. No one walks in practice and everyone is diving for lose balls. It’s a team mindset,” said Caldwell, the girls’ coach at New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) And with that the nation’s No. 1 team and top seed here lost for only the second time…