Dick's Nationals: Greensboro Day stuns Independent Top 10 No. 1 IMG Academy 59-40

Video: R.J. Barrett Montverde Academy Highlights
See the nation's top-rated sophomore score from all over the floor.

Greensboro Day (N.C.) head coach Freddy Johnson is a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the all-time winningest high school basketball coach in state history.

His No. 7 seed Bengals carried an impressive 33-3 record and NCISAA Class 3A state title into a Thursday bout with Goliath —  Independent Top 10 No. 1 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

Greensboro Day sparked some madness at Dick’s Nationals as Johnson picked up his 992nd career victory with a 59-40 upset win over the No. 2 seed Ascenders.

Greensboro Day outscored the Ascenders 21-6 in the final quarter to run away with it. The fundamental Bengals took away all of the Ascenders strengths and made someone besides the nation's top-rated point guard, Trevon Duval, beat them. He had 14 for the game, but was held scoreless in the second half. Greensboro Day's pesky defense also forced 19 turnovers and limited IMG Academy (27-1) to a dismal 4-of-24 from beyond the arc.

Temple commit J.P. Moorman dropped a game-high 15 points and seven rebounds. The Bengals well-balanced offense produced three scorers in double figures.

MORE: Dick's Nationals Bracket

High School Top 25 No. 9 Greensboro Day now battles Independent Top 10 No. 4 Montverde Academy (Fla.) in the semifinals on Friday, while top seed La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) and Independent Top 10 No. 5 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) meet on the opposite side of the bracket. Independent Top 10 No. 4 Montverde Academy (Fla.) 74
High School Top 25 No. 14 Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.) 61

In Thursday's opener, powerhouse Montverde Academy trailed underdog Shadow Mountain by one point at halftime in the quarterfinals of the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School Nationals.

But the three-time Dick's Nationals champion Eagles woke up in the second half and stormed to a 74-61 victory over the previously undefeated Matadors (27-1).

R.J. Barrett, the nation's top-rated sophomore, took over in the second half and tallied a game-high 24 points with 13 rebounds and five assists. The (24-4) Eagles nailed 10 3-pointers and their size advantage ignited a key 45-21 differential in rebounds. Montverde Academy had three scorers in double figures and outscored Shadow Mountain 38-24 in the second half.

Sophomore Jovan Blacksher recorded a team-high 20 points for the Arizona Class 4A state champ led by head coach and former Arizona legend, Mike Bibby. It's worth noting the Matadors were without their top player in Jaelen House.

Independent Top 10 No. 5 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 77
Independent Top 10 No. 6 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 65

In a rematch of heavyweights, powerhouse Findlay Prep pulled away late and knocked off defending Dick's Nationals champion Oak Hill Academy for the second time this season.

One night after playing in the McDonald’s All-American Game, Kentucky-bound power forward P.J. Washington dominated with a game-high 20 points, four rebounds and four 3-pointers.

The Pilots outscored the Warriors 28-21 in the fourth quarter and led by as many 15 points. Findlay Prep (34-3) owned the points-in-the-paint battle 46-22 and was extremely efficient — shooting 57 percent from the field.

Three-star Reggie Chaney registered 21 points and nine rebounds, while senior Lamine Diane added 21 points. Kansas commit Billy Preston posted 21 points and nine rebounds in the loss. 

Independent Top 10 No. 2 La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) 64
Independent Top 10 No. 10 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 52

Tournament top seed La Lumiere (25-1) led Wasatch Academy by 10 points at halftime and transitioned to cruise control the rest of the way.

Five-star Brian Bowen put on a show with a game-high 21 points and some highlight dunks. Michigan State commit Jaren Jackson contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Canadian Josip Vrankic pumped in 10 points and 14 rebounds to pace Wasatch Academy (23-5).