Top-seeded Lakers look to erase 2016 championship game heartbreak.
Video: Brian Bowen highlightsMcDonald's All-American hopes to finish on top this week in NYC.Head coach Shane Heirman has led
La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) to a 52-5 record over the past two seasons, beating teams from 15 different states and China along the way.
The Lakers have notched signature victories over established powers
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.),
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.).
In short, the upstart program has done it all – except take home the trophy at Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals.
That dream was dashed in heartbreaking fashion a year ago as
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) beat the Lakers at the buzzer in overtime to capture the tournament title.
La Lumiere players and coaches walk away dejected after a heartbreaking loss in the 2016 Dick's Nationals championship game.
Photo by Steven Ryan
La Lumiere (25-1) will look to erase that memory beginning Thursday at Christ the King High School in New York. The Lakers, who were rewarded with the top seed, open against
Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah).
In other first round matchups, Montverde Academy meets
Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.) at noon (EDT), Findlay Prep meets Oak Hill Academy at 2 p.m. and
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) faces
Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) at 4 p.m.
All of Thursday's games will be broadcast live by ESPNU. See the full bracket below.
Findlay Prep (2009, 2010, 2012), Montverde Academy (2013, 2014, 2015) and Oak Hill Academy (2016) are all past winners in the event.
MaxPreps National RankingsIndependent Top 101. IMG Academy
2. La Lumiere
4. Montverde Academy
5. Findlay Prep
6. Oak Hill Academy
10. Wasatch Academy
High School Top 259. Greensboro Day
14. Shadow Mountain
