DME Rolls, Ft. Erie Survives a Thriller
Owensboro, Kentucky — Saturday night at the Owensboro Sportscenter delivered two compelling matchups as Grind Session programs and national contenders continued their mid-season push. Fans were treated to a dominant performance in the opener and a dramatic comeback battle in the nightcap.
Game 1 — DME Academy (FL) 88, iSchool 68
DME Academy wasted no time setting the tone, exploding out of the gate for 31 first-quarter points and grabbing a 13-point cushion at 31–18 over iSchool of Lewisville. From there, the Daytona Beach powerhouse dictated tempo and execution on both ends, cruising to a decisive win.
DME Academy's Ryan Hampton with the jumper for two
Ryan Hampton was sensational, scoring 28 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, just one board shy of a double-double.
DME’s balance was on full display as:
- Nathan Kirk added 17 points
- Troy Fason Jr. chipped in 17
- Yohane Kabongo contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds
iSchool found bright spots in the loss, led by Keonte Greybear, who finished with 16 points.
Game 2 — Ft. Erie 84, Huntington Expression 82
The nightcap delivered all the drama fans could hope for.
Ft. Erie International and Huntington Expression Prep spent the first half trading scoring runs and defensive counters, with Ft. Erie sneaking into the locker room ahead 40–33.
Eli Jolin hits the three point shot for Ft. Erie International
Huntington flipped the script in the third quarter, riding momentum — and big plays — to a nine-point lead.
Their surge was sparked by standout performances from:
- Rahiti Tinirauarii — 19 points
- Aviv Aronov — 16 points
But Ft. Erie refused to fold.
Promis N'landu hits the short jumper.
Behind the late-game poise of Eli Jolin, who finished with 23 points, and Promis N'landu, who scored 15, Ft. Erie clawed back into the game and erased the deficit.
With under a minute remaining and the contest hanging in the balance, Ft. Erie hit key shots and tightened the defense to seal a gritty 84–82 victory.
Final Thoughts
Saturday night showcased two sides of Grind Session basketball — a commanding wire-to-wire performance and a dramatic comeback thriller.
DME continues to find its rhythm behind multiple scoring threats, while Ft. Erie proved once again that composure and toughness travel.
More action remains ahead Sunday in Owensboro as teams make their final push of the weekend — stay tuned to Grind Session media and the live YouTube coverage produced by Tanager Sports.
