Utah state champs erupt in the second half to take unbeaten Eagles to the wire.
Video: High school basketball Top 25Find out where GEICO Nationals participants checked in this week.When the field was announced for GEICO Nationals earlier this month, there was a bit of consternation about the inclusion of Utah state champion
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah).
The Knights (23-4) proved they belong Thursday by taking unbeaten No. 1
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) to the wire before falling 87-82.
Montverde Academy (33-0) received a bit of good fortune with 19.8 seconds left and the game tied at 82 when Lone Peak attempted to take a time out it didn't have, resulting in a technical foul.
The Eagles salted away the game at the free throw line from in a heartbreaking finish for the team from Utah.
After being down by 14 at halftime, Lone Peak caught fire with 57 points in the final 16 minutes. A 3-pointer by
Jackson Brinkerhoff tied the contest at 79 with 1:16 remaining.
The Knights connected on 19 of 43 3-point attempts, including seven by senior guard
Steven Ashworth. The state player of the year finished with 29 points and 10 assists.
Montverde looked the part of the nation's top-ranked team in the first half. Duke-bound wing
R.J. Barrett put up 33 points, six assists and five rebounds while
Andrew Nembhard added 16 points and seven assists.
The Florida powerhouse advances to face No. 4 Findlay Prep in semifinal action Friday.
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