Five-star Michigan signee
Caleb Houstan tipped in the game winner with 17 seconds left as top-ranked
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) survived an upset scare Friday by No. 2
AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) in the GEICO Nationals semifinals. The Eagles' 51-49 win sets up a championship showdown at noon (ET) Saturday against No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy, which has beaten the No. 1 team in the MaxPrep Top 25 once this season.
Trailing 42-33 entering the fourth quarter, AZ Compass Prep responded with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 42 midway through the fourth quarter. The teams traded blows down the stretch before Creighton pledge
Ryan Nembhard knocked down a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock with 1:19 left to give the Eagles a 49-47 advantage.
MaxPreps National Player of the Year finalist
TyTy Washington responded on the other end with a nice step-through layup to knot things up at 49. Houstan's game winning tip-in on the other end gave the Eagles the winning advantage, as Washington's last second 3-point attempt rimmed-out.
Jalen Duren, the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2022, finished with a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds, while Nembhard added five points, nine assists and four rebounds for Montverde (23-1).
Jalen Duren had a team-high 14 points for Monverde Acadmey.
Photo by Pete Wright
Washington finished his impressive senior campaign with 15 points, five assists and four rebounds in the loss.
It was Montverde Academy's second win of the season over the 28-2 Dragons, who fell 76-65 in overtime on Jan. 28.
The Eagles seeks their fifth GEICO Nationals title in their first championship appearance since 2018. Montverde Academy leads the season series 2-1, beating the Buffaloes 61-57 three weeks ago.
GEICO Nationals championship
Friday's semifinal resultsMontverde Academy 51, AZ Compass Prep 49
Sunrise Christian Academy 70, IMG Academy 63
Saturday, April 3
Game on ESPN
Noon (ET) — No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy vs. No. 1 Montverde Academy
