The win avenges Sunrise Christian's only loss of the season. The Buffaloes (10-1) fell to Montverde Academy 53-44 in the opening weekend of NIBC play back on Dec. 4.
Montverde struggled to integrate five-star guard
Skyy Clark in his debut. The Kentucky signee scored just three points, missing all six of his field goal attempts in 22 minutes. Clark provided a spark in other areas, however, finishing with seven assists and four rebounds in the loss.
Sunrise Christian Academy nearly pulled off a wire-to-wire win, responding with an early 9-0 run after an opening basket from five-star Indiana signee
Jalen Hood-Schifino gave Montverde Academy its only lead of the contest at 2-0.
The Eagles couldn't find consistency on the offensive end, scoring just 21 points in the second and third quarters combined and going scoreless for the final 4:45 of the third quarter to allow the Buffaloes to stretch their lead to 54-38.
Montverde Academy (9-3) was able to cut the lead to single digits at 61-53 with 2:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Sunrise Christian Academy was able to knock down free throws and finish easy transition layups down the stretch to methodically grind out the hard-earned victory.
Sunrise Christian Academy held the Eagles to 24 of 58 (41.4 percent) shooting from the field and 4 of 24 (16.7 percent) from the 3-point line. Montverde Academy also struggled from the free throw line, shooting 9 of 25 (36 percent).
Five-star Texas signee
Dillon Mitchell
was the only consistent bright spot for Montverde Academy, leading
all-scorers with 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds on 13 of 14 shooting.
Five-star Kansas signee
Gradey Dick led the way in the win, finishing with 20 points on 6 of 13 from the field and 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Four-star junior
Scotty Middleton provided a spark for the Buffaloes off the bench, scoring 19 points on 7 of 7 shooting.
Both teams return to the court for more NIBC action tomorrow. Montverde Academy looks to bounce back against Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.) while Sunrise Christian Academy faces Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah).
Gradey Dick prepares to take the shot for Sunrise Christian Academy.
File photo by Annette Wilkerson
