City of Palms Classic semifinals: No. 1 Montverde Academy dominates

By Jordan Divens Dec 21, 2019, 7:15pm

The Eagles more than double up on defending event champion and No. 21 McEachern; Seeks payback in finals against IMG Academy.

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Watch No. 1 Montvedre Academy notched big wins last week.

Seven players scored in double figures as the nation's No. 1 team Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) dominated the nightcap of the City of Palms Classic Saturday with a 99-48 semifinal victory over defending event champion and No. 21 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.).

The Eagles dominated in every facet while shooting 60.9 percent, adding 31 assists and committing just five turnovers.

Montverde out-rebounded the Indians 37-17 and forced 18 turnovers, while holding the reigning National Player of the Year Sharife Cooper to just 17 points and forcing him into five turnovers.

Montverde was led in scoring by Scottie Barnes, Caleb Houstan and Moses Moody with 14 apiece, Zeb Jackson added 13, Day'ron Sharpe and Cade Cunningham contributed 11 apiece and Langston Love chipped in 10.
Cade Cunningham, a 6-6 combo guard who has already signed to Oklahoma State, was one of seven Montverde Academy players to score in double figures Saturday night.
Cade Cunningham, a 6-6 combo guard who has already signed to Oklahoma State, was one of seven Montverde Academy players to score in double figures Saturday night.
Photo by Jim Redman
The Eagles  now play No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), a 76-67 winner over Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in the other semifinal, in Monday's championship. A 34-21 fourth-quarter run vaulted the Ascenders to victory.

Although Gonzaga led for nearly 24 minutes, the defending national champions were able to wear down the WCAC power for four quarters with a balanced attack led by 5-star Tennessee pledge Jaden Springer.



Springer led five players in double figures for IMG Academy, finishing with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. Matthew Murrell had 13 points, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Moussa Diabate each added 12 and Jarace Walker scored 11 points for IMG.

For Gonzaga, Terrance Williams had 29 points and eight rebounds on an efficient 11-of-16 shooting from the field, while teammate Chuck Harris added 16 points.

Montverde and IMG meet 8:30 p.m. Monday for the title. The Eagles are favorites entering the contest and will no doubt seek payback after losing a 16-point lead to IMG in the fourth quarter of the GEICO Nationals' semifinals last season en route to a bitter 74-73 season-ending loss.

Located in Fort Myers (Fla.), the City of Palms Classic is considered one of the premier basketball events in the country.

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