The four-team showcase was set up in a tournament-style bracket with the winners facing off in the title game and the losers competing in a third-place contest.
In the first contest of the day, Mater Dei held off a late push from Pace Academy to escape with a 69-66 victory.
Zack Davidson led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds while
Che Brogan chipped in 13 points and
Owen Verna finished with 12 points.
Scotty Belnap of Mater Dei contests a shot Friday in the California power's 69-66 win over Pace Academy of Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Hoophall Classic)
The second contest saw a dominant effort from No. 3 Paul VI, who defeated No. 18 Christ the King 56-31. The Panthers, who received scoring contributions from 10 players, took command early with a 17-2 run to start the game.
In Saturday's games, Paul VI takes on Mater Dei in the title game at 11 a.m. ET and Pace Academy faces Christ the King in the third-place game at 9 a.m.
Hoophall International is being played at Copper Box Arena, a multi-sport venue that hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics and is currently the home of the London Lions of the British Basketball League.
In conjunction with the event, the O2 Arena hosts a pair of college showdowns on Sunday as the Michigan faces Kentucky and Maine takes on Marist in London.
Hoophall International is the first of six high school events
hosted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022-23 with Hoophall West, Hoophall South, Hoophall East, Hoophall Central and the Spalding Hoophall
Classic to follow.
Deshawn Harris-Smith and No. 3 St. Paul VI opened the season with an impressive victory over Christ the King on Friday in London. (Photo courtesy of Hoophall Classic)
