The recent arctic blast impacting the Eastern Coast did not disrupt the activities of the 15 teams participating at Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill in Hamilton, Ohio, from December 5-7, 2025, during the third stop of the Grind Session Contenders Conference.
The three-day event brought together teams from Minnesota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Canada to compete for qualification in the Contenders Conference championship scheduled for March.
Athlete Institute's Orangeville Prep (3-0) (Canada) and Code Academy (2-0) (Canada) were the only two teams with a perfect record. Huntington Expression Prep (3-1) (West Virginia) finished the weekend with only one blemish on their schedule.
The Grind Session league added the new Contenders Conference this season, joining the Power (17 teams) and Elevation (26 teams) Conferences.
Top Matchups
Game #1 – Orangeville Prep (Canada) 58 vs. Minnesota Prep 54
Orangeville Prep (3-0) held off a late fourth quarter rally by Minnesota Prep (2-1), securing a four-point victory in a low scoring battle.
Orangeville went into halftime with a 33-20 lead after the teams were tied, 10-10, after the first quarter. Minnesota outscored Orangeville, 34-25, during the second half making the game interesting.
Charles Duncan led all scorers with 19 points for Minnesota followed by Ricardo Vincente with 12 points. Noah D’Acre scored 11 points for Orangeville Prep.
Game #2 – Polaris Prep (Canada) 71 vs. Mode Academy (Washington) 59
Four players scored in double figures leading Polaris Prep (2-1) to a 71-59 victory over a shorthanded Mode Academy (2-1).
Lukas Krzywicki and Perrin Taylor led Polaris with 14 points each followed by Luka Kapor and Charles Dart finishing with 12 points each.
Polaris outscored Mode, 27-10, during the final nine minutes to pull away with the 12-point victory. Zuby Toms let all scores with 20 points for Mode Academy. Collin Simon finished with 14 points. Alassane Doucoure added 13 points.
Game #3 – Tall Pines Prep (Canada) 102 vs. Chi-Prep Academy (Illinois) 90
Janoy Walkes scored 31 points leading Tall Pines (1-2) to a high-scoring, 102-90, victory over Chi Prep Academy (1-1). Teammate David Bottomley finished with 29 points.
Tall Pines battled back from an early, 26-20, first quarter deficit taking a slim 41-40 lead into halftime. The third quarter belonged to Tall Pines as they outscored Chi Prep, 34-26.
Genard Toney led Chi Prep with 25 points followed by Issac Smith IV with 20 points.
Above the Rim: (Top Single Game Performances)
45 points / David Bottomley (Tall Pines) vs. DME Wisconsin
39 points / Amare Pryor (Chi Prep) vs. Inspire Academy
33 points / Jacob Slone (Wesley Christian) vs. Inspire Academy
32 points / David Bottomley (Tall Pines) vs. Mode Academy
31 points / Alassane Doucoure (Mode Academy) vs. Tall Pines
31 points / Quinton Alexander (Inspire Academy) vs. Minnesota Prep
31 points / Janoy Walkes (Tall Pines) vs. Chi Prep
29 points / David Bottomley (Tall Pines) vs. Chi Prep
28 points / LaTrevion Fenderson (DME Wisconsin) vs. Tall Pines
28 points / Janoy Walkes (Tall Pines) vs. Minnesota Prep
27 points / Ban Yor (Minnesota Prep) vs. Tall Pines
27 points / Momo Sanogo (Code Academy) vs. Wesley Christian
Contenders Conference Standings
Contenders Conference Standings (After 3 Events)
