High school basketball: No. 3 Montverde Academy wins City of Palms Classic title 60-55 over No. 9 Oak Hill Academy

By Jordan Divens Dec 22, 2021, 8:00pm

Tournament MVP Dillon Mitchell had 16 points and nine rebounds in the championship game.

The final day of action at the City of Palms Classic was worth the wait as the championship outcome came down to final seconds as National Top 20 No. 3 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) defeated No. 9 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 60-55 on Wednesday night.

A close game from the tip saw six lead changes and six ties as the Eagles found a way to make plays in a frenzied final 30 seconds.

A Dillon Mitchell alley-oop slam on a Jalen Hood-Schifino assist gave the Eagles a 55-52 advantage before Oak Hill's  Chris Livingston, a Kentucky signee, missed both free throws. Montverde capitalized on the mistake, as Hood-Schifino extended the lead to five with a pair of freebies of his own with 15.4 remaining.

Duke pledge Caleb Foster raced down the court and quickly banked home a 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds remaining as the Warriors cut the deficit to 57-55 with 8.9 seconds.

Hood-Schifino then iced the game for the Eagles with two free throws as Montverde Academy captured its third City of Palms Classic championship since 2016. Mitchell was named tournament MVP after finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting.

Both teams shooting around 45 percent from the field (Montverde Academy 45.8 percent, Oak Hill Academy 43.5 percent) as each team finished with 11 turnovers.



Florida signee Malik Reneau chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and three assists in the Eagles' win, while Duke signee Dariq Whitehead finished with 12 points and four rebounds.

Uncommitted senior Judah Mintz finished with 22 points and four rebounds in the loss for the Warriors.
No. 3 Montverde Academy beat NO. 9 Oak Hill Academy 60-55 in the City of Palms final on Wednesday.
No. 3 Montverde Academy beat NO. 9 Oak Hill Academy 60-55 in the City of Palms final on Wednesday.
Photo by Pete Wright
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Montverde Academy
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Montverde Academy
Photo by Pete Wright
Oak Hill's Caleb Foster shoots past Montverde's Dariq Whitehead in the Eagles' 60-55 championship win Wednesday at the City of Palms Classic.
Oak Hill's Caleb Foster shoots past Montverde's Dariq Whitehead in the Eagles' 60-55 championship win Wednesday at the City of Palms Classic.
Photo by Pete Wright