The Eagles were led by the dominant play of their big men as Texas signee
Dillon Mitchell finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds on 8 of 12 from the field while unsigned senior
Malik Reneau provided 14 points and 12 rebounds on 5 of 9 shooting. Duke signee
Dariq Whitehead also chipped in 14 points, six assists and four rebounds although he struggled from the field, shooting 5 of 17.
After a layup from five-star Lin Academy junior
Omaha Biliew cut the Eagles lead to 53-49 with 2:15 remaining, Montverde closed the game on a 7-0 run that started with a contested free-throw line jumper from Whitehead with 1:50 to go that put them up five.
After both teams traded missed shots, five-star junior
Kwame Evans Jr. hit a 3-point shot from the right wing to give Montverde Academy a decisive 58-49 lead with 49 seconds remaining.
The Eagles never trailed in their championship game triumph, jumping to an 18-10 lead after the first quarter, 30-25 lead at the half and 47-40 advantage after three quarters.
Five-star senior
Julian Phillips was the only player who finished in
double figures for the Lions, scoring 15 points to go with seven
rebounds on 5 of 10 from the field in the loss.
Although Link Academy (34-2) ends the season in defeat, the first-year program has put itself on the map as a potential basketball powerhouse moving forward.
The sixth GEICO Nationals title for head coach Kevin Boyle and the Eagles is the most of any program in event history as the Sunshine State powerhouse continues to distance themselves from the now defunct Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) which sits in second with three.
Montverde Academy (22-4) now won the event title in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2022 with a 26-5 overall record in 11 appearances. They also claim the program's third consecutive national title after COVID-19 canceled GEICO Nationals in 2020 following a 25-0 season for the Eagles.
Duke signee Dariq Whitehead (0) helped Montverde Academy capture its second consecutive GEICO Nationals title.
File photo by Pete Wright
