LaCore Elite Academy (LEA), from McKinney, Texas, arrived in Bowling Green, Kentucky for the Grind Session Power Play In with one goal on their collective minds, and that was to secure the tournament championship and spot in the prep leagues Power Conference, where the best of the best play.
LaCore opened the event with wins over Exclusive Prep and Strength and Motion to advance to the Elite Eight, where they defeated Grind Prep Oklahoma. Next up was a very good CODE Academy squad from Canada, LEA led 50-34 at the half, but CODE put up a furious comeback in the second half, only to fall a bucket short in the end, losing 87-85. LaCore was led by junior guard Rodney Washington, who scored 27 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and handed out 6 assists.
LaCore’s opponent in the title game would end up being Our Saviour Lutheran (OSL), out of New York City. OSL is a past world champion on the Grind Session circuit and no stranger to big games. OSL advanced to the championship contest with wins over, Fusion Prep, Empowering Others Prep, an Elite Eight victory verses Bull City Prep and a Final Four win against Frolich Academy, a battle where they trailed most of the game but out scored Frolich 14-5 in the fourth quarter to win 57-53.
In the title game, things didn’t start as planned for LaCore. Big man Steve McLeod, a 6-9 senior, picked up three fouls in the first 57 seconds of play. Head Coach Scott Pospichal went to his bench and replaced McLeod with 6-7 sophomore forward Gabe Whitehead, who did an outstanding job of holding down the fort until McLeod could return in the second half.
But LEA was just too much for OSL, leading 21-8 after the first eight minutes of play and 41-27 at halftime. The two teams traded baskets for the first five minutes of quarter number three, before LEA went on an 8-0 run to take a 64-38 lead with under two minutes to go in the frame, eventually leading 66-42 after three.
OSL did win the fourth quarter 25-17, but they had dug themselves to big a hole to climb out of, against a very good opponent, falling 83-67. LaCore Elite Academy was led by junior guard Aaron McMorran II with 30 points on 11-19 shooting, 6-13 from three, he added 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Washington chipped in 19 points and 7 assist, while Kadon Gaines added 16 points. OSL was led by JJ Smith Jr. who had 21 points, Jalen Mehu had 16 points and 6 rebounds.
