Five teams came out on top with perfect records during the fourth stop of the Contenders Conference (Grind Session) this past weekend at Briarcrest High School and the P7 Sports Academy in Tennessee.
Teams from Utah, Tennessee, Texas, Chicago, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Washington, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, Atlanta, and Canada competed in the four-day Showcase for a spot in the March Contenders Conference championship.
Anthem Prep (3-0) (Utah) and On1 Prep Academy (3-0) (Texas) led the standings, while Legion Prep (2-0) (Texas), Victory Rock (2-0) (Florida), and Briarcrest Christian High School (1-0) (Tennessee) also remained unbeaten. The Grind Session league added the new Contenders Conference this season, joining the Power (17 teams) and Elevation (26 teams) Conferences.
Game 1 - Legion Prep (Texas) 89 vs. South Central Prep (Oklahoma) 88 OT
Cyruss Evans scored a game high 37 points leading Legion Prep to a thrilling, 89-88, overtime victory again an exceptionally talented Southcentral Prep team. The game was close throughout with South Central holding a slim, 47-41, halftime lead. Legion Prep {3-0) outscored South Central 18-11 during the third quarter, giving them a 59 to 58 point lead going into the final nine minutes. Evans scored 15 points during the fourth quarter and six points during the four-minute overtime period. Kenan Dikamba finished with 16 points for Legion Prep. Nate Lyon led South Central (1-2) with 24 points while Kade Speckman added 12 points.
Game 2 – Mode Academy (Washington) 85 vs. The New School (Arkansas) 83
Zuby Toms scored 12 of his game-high 24 points during the final quarter leading Mode to a two-point victory over The New School. Mode (2-1) outscored New School 26-6 during the second quarter taking a 41-35 halftime lead. New School made a late fourth quarter run but fell one bucket short. Ryder Scribner led New School (0·3) with 25points while Aidan Chronister finished with 19 points.
Game 3 - Anthem Prep (Utah) 84 vs. South Central Prep (Oklahoma) 80
Ousseynou Sambe scored 23 points leading Anthem Prep {3·0) to a thrilling 84-80 victory over South Central Prep at Briarcrest High School. South Central (1-2) held a slim. 42-40, halftime lead and led 62-61 after three quarters. Sambe scored nine points during the final quarter for Anthem Prep leading to the four-point win.
Above the Rim:Top Single Game Performances
37 points/Cyruss Evans, Legion Prep vs. South Central
37 points/Kasion Mahene, Moss Prep Academy vs. Minnesota Prep
36 points/Sebastian Vargaz, Eduprize Prep vs. Legion Prep
33 points/TysonHeard, On1 Prep Academy vs. Chi-Prep Academy
30 points/Cameron Jones, IXInternational vs. New School
30 points/KhalilLias, Eduprize Prep vs. On1 Prep Academy
27 points /ZubyToms, Mode Academy vs. Minnesota Prep
Contenders Conference Tennessee
