Paul VI held a 21-18 advantage after the first quarter. Monterde Academy surged back to take a 36-30 lead into halftime and the Eagles maintained a 48-47 advantage headed into the final quarter of play.
Five-star sophomore
Jordan Smith opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with a mid-range basket from the right corner with just under seven minutes remaining.

Top-ranked Duke signee Cooper Flagg finished with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists in the victory. (Photo: Eugene Alonzo)
Montverde Academy responded with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes of play. Five-star Indiana signee
Liam McNeeley knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing before top-ranked Duke signee
Cooper Flagg finished a transition layup through contact and Queen threw down a dunk to give the Eagles a 55-49 lead with under five minutes to play.
Following a free throw from Paul VI on the other end, McNeeley connected on a 3-pointer from the right wing to extend Montverde's edge to 58-50. Rhode Island signee
Ben Hammond converted a pair of driving layups for the Panthers to cut the deficit to 58-54 with under three minutes to play.
Flagg responded with a throwdown on the other end with 2:15 remaining to stretch the advantage to 60-54 before Hammond continued his personal eight-point run with a mid-range basket followed by another layup to cut the deficit to 60-58 with 1:30 to play.
The Eagles closed the game on a 7-2 spurt as McNeeley walked into a 3-pointer from the top of the key with one minute remaining before Wright converted a transition layup and Wright finished another layup in the closing seconds.
Paul VI (7-1) will look to rebound in the City of Palms Classic third-place game where it will take on the loser in the Long Island Lutheran-Link Academy matchup.

Top-ranked senior Cooper Flagg shot 4-of-10 from the field and 2 of-5 from three-point range in the victory. (Photo: Eugene Alonzo)

Three-star Rhode Island signee Ben Hammond led the Panthers in scoring for the third consecutive game at the City of Palms Classic, finishing with 14 points. (Photo: Eugene Alonzo)