Montverde Academy (21-1) outscored Sunrise Christian (19-3) 22-15 in the third quarter to gain a 49-43 advantage heading into the final quarter. The Buffaloes battled back to tie things up at 49-49 with a 6-0 run to start the fourth quarter.
After trading a pair of baskets, Montverde Academy went on a decisive 10-1 run sparked by a personal 6-0 run from five-star junior
Dariq Whitehead. That extended the lead to 61-52 with under two minutes remaining. Whitehead finished with a team-high 18 points to go along with nine rebounds and six steals.
Montverde Academy won the first meeting 58-52 on Jan. 9 before Sunrise Christian Academy snapped the Eagles' 44-game win streak with a 69-66 overtime victory Feb. 5.
Kansas commit
Gradey Dick scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss for Sunrise Christian. The recent Kansas pledge scored 11 points in the third quarter.
Along with Whitehead, the Eagles had three other scorers in double figures as Baylor signee
Langston Love chipped in 15 points and five rebounds,
Jalen Duren finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and Michigan signee
Caleb Houstan scored 12.
Both teams are expected to return to the court next month for GEICO Nationals.
Friday night's standout Dariq Whitehead is introduced to the crowed prior to a game in December.
File photo by Annette Wilkerson
