Jaxon Richardson, regarded as one of the top junior in the country by
247Sports, provided the spark for Columbus in the second half with 17 of his team-high 23 points after halftime, connecting on 10 of 15 attempts from the field.
Star twins and Duke signees
Cameron and
Cayden Boozer combined for 38 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Five-star Duke signee Cameron Boozer finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in the victory. (Photo: Eugene Alonzo)
, an Arkansas signee, led IMG Academy with 27 points and eight assists in the losing effort.
Columbus led 18-16 after the first quarter while IMG Academy rallied to take a 31-27 advantage into halftime.
Richardson scored 11 in the third quarter, helping Columbus grab a 52-49 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Following a contested layup from Cayden Boozer to make things 54-52 early in the fourth quarter, the Ascenders responded with a pair of alley-oops to Syracuse signee
Sadiq White Jr. to take a 56-54 advantage and force Columbus to burn a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Cameron Boozer converted an and-one before his brother picked up another basket with a tip-in.
After IMG Academy converted a pair of free throws on the other end, Richardson recorded an impressive chase-down block that led to a transition layup for senior guard
Cello Jackson to extend the margin to three points for Columbus.
Cameron Boozer put things away down the stretch as he scored five points in the final minute. He banked home a layup off the drive before converting an and-one to make the lead 75-67.
Despite Columbus missing four consecutive free throws in the final 30 seconds, IMG Academy was unable to cut the deficit under four in the closing seconds.
IMG Academy (8-2) looks to rebound in the third-place game Monday night against MaxPreps Top 25 No. 7
Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) at 6:30 p.m.
Top 25 Duke signee Cayden Boozer tallied 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the semifinal clash. (Photo: Eugene Alonzo)
