University School pulls upset at City of Palms

FORT MYERS — University School made a strong pitch to jump to the top of the national high school basketball rankings Saturday, upsetting No. 1 Memphis East 77-72 in the championship game of the 45th City of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena.

University School (9-0) is the lowest seed to ever win the City of Palms, according to tournament vice president Donnie Wilkie.

Since St. Pete Gibbs did it in 1990, no Florida high school program — other than Orlando Montverde and Miami Senior — had won the tournament.

University School defeated nationally ranked Archbishop Molloy, of New York City, Mater Dei, of Santa Ana, Calif., and McEachern from Georgia en route to making the title game.

The loss dropped Memphis East — coached by Penny Hardaway — to 8-1.

University School came into the City of Palms ranked No. 4 by FloHoops.com, No. 11 by BallIsLife and No. 18 by MaxPreps. USA Today did not have the Sharks in their national Top 25.

Fouls played a large factor in the first half.

Memphis East had to go deeper on its bench than it planned when whistled for 11 fouls. James Wiseman, one of the top two juniors in the country, and Ryan Boyce each had 3 fouls, while and Alex Lomax and Malcolm Dandridge had 2 apiece. THIRD-PLACE GAME MCEACHERN (GA.) 56, CHICAGO SIMEON 54: Isaac Okoro had 22 points and sophomore Sharife Cooper 19 for the Indians, who prevailed despite taking 31 shots to Simeon’s 56. Iowa State recruit Talen Horton-Tucker led Simeon with 21. FIFTH-PLACE GAME ORLANDO OAK RIDGE 56, WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN (N.C.) 52: Emmitt Williams, in his first year at Oak Ridge after playing at IMG Academy, had 21 points and 12 rebounds to power the Pioneers (11-1). Jaylen Hoard had a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) for Wesleyan Christian.