The Eagles (26-2) were dominant from the onset, going on a 24-5 run to start the game en route to winning an event that aims to establish a foundation for a future potential national
championship tournament among NFHS state champions.
Calvary Christian, the FHSAA 4A state champions, was clearly the top team in this four-team field with its second straight lopsided win. The Eagles defeated Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.) 58-37 on Thursday and for the season won by an average score of 70-46.
Tournament MVP Taylor Hendricks with an emphatic dunk during Calvary Christian Academy's 71-44 win over Auburn.
Photo by Sheila Haddad
On Saturday, the Eagles showed off all their balance as all five starters finished scoring in double figures led by Top 150 junior
Carl Cherenfant with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Other big contributors were UCF pledge
Taylor Hendricks (13 points, five rebounds, three blocks), Florida Atlanta commit
Brenen Lorient (13 points, 10 rebounds), Michigan signee
Gregg Glenn (12 points, six rebounds, five assists) and five-star junior
Marvel Allen (10 points, five rebounds).
Hendricks was selected the event's MVP.
No. 23 Auburn, the WIAA Class 3A state champions, was led by unsigned seniors
Maleek Arington (17 points, four steals) and
Tre Blassingame (13 points, 11 rebounds). The Trojans finished 28-3.
The Eagles shot 48.3 percent from the field and collected 46 rebounds
versus 27.9 percent shooting and 30 rebounds for the Trojans. A sloppy
game on both sides saw the two teams combine for 29 turnovers.
The State Champions Invitational is
expected to expand to an eight-team field in 2023 with hopes of more state
associations allowing teams to participate in
future seasons. Although the event is open to all NFHS recognized state champions, currently only teams from
Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Washington and the District of
Columbia are eligible.
This was the final game between two high school teams of the 2021-22 season. Stay tuned for the final MaxPreps Top 25 national rankings on Monday.
The Calvary Christian Academy players, staff and cheerleaders pose following the team's State Champions Invitational title Saturday in Tampa.
Photo by Sheila Haddad
