The First Academy Royals waltzed into their matchup on Thursday with two straight wins but they left with three. They came out on top against Oviedo by a score of 67-55. The win was all the more spectacular given The First Academy's disadvantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 137th, while Oviedo is ranked 32nd).
The First Academy's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Max Simmons, who scored 27 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Simmons has scored all season. The team also got some help courtesy of Lorenzo De jesus, who scored 21 points along with five rebounds and two steals.
When it comes to explaining why Oviedo lost, one person who can't be blamed is Hunter Haverkamp. Despite the final result, he scored 19 points along with five assists and two steals. Another player making a difference was Caleb Pennyfeather, who scored 11 points along with seven rebounds and three blocks.
The First Academy is on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 9-5 record this season. As for Oviedo, their defeat dropped their record down to 13-3.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. The First Academy won't have much time to rest: their next match is against Lake Highland Prep at 7:00 p.m. on January 12th. Lake Highland Prep will be looking to keep their five-game home win streak alive. As for Oviedo, Oviedo and Hagerty will face off at 7:30 p.m. on January 12th without much rest after finishing up games yesterday. Hagerty is strutting with some offensive muscle, as they've averaged 71.5 points per game.
