The Montverde Academy Eagles are taking a road trip to challenge the Lake Wales Highlanders at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. One thing working in Montverde Academy's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last seven matches.
Montverde Academy is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another highly-ranked state team: Bella Vista College Preparatory School, who was ranked 12th in their home state at the time (Montverde Academy was ranked sixth). Montverde Academy snuck past Bella Vista College Preparatory School with a 56-52 victory on Saturday.
Montverde Academy got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was CJ Ingram out in front who almost dropped a double-double on 12 points and nine rebounds. Kayden Allen was another key player, putting up 14 points and seven boards.
Meanwhile, Lake Wales can finally bid farewell to their four-game losing streak thanks to their game on Tuesday. They enjoyed a cozy 62-43 victory over McKeel Academy. The Highlanders pushed the score to 49-23 by the end of the third, a deficit the Wildcats cut but never quite recovered from.
Montverde Academy better keep an eye on Sebastian Perez. He was instrumental in Lake Wales' win, going 5 of 9 on his way to 12 points along with five assists and five boards. Perez is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last 11 games he's played. Jorge Ramirez was another key player, posting 11 points and three steals.
Lake Wales smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 21 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 12 offensive boards in four consecutive games.
Montverde Academy is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last seven contests, which provided a nice bump to their 11-2 record this season. As for Lake Wales, their win ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 7-9.
This contest is shaping up to be a blowout: Montverde Academy has been crazy accurate this season, having nailed 52% of their field goals per game. It's a different story for Lake Wales, though, as they've only nailed 34.5% of their shots this season. Given Montverde Academy's sizable advantage in that area, Lake Wales will need to find a way to close that gap. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
