Montverde slipped — but may have learned a lesson
MONTVERDE — Montverde did not escape the NIBC Classic with the No. 1 national ranking in the BallisLife Fab 50. But Dariq Whitehead and the Eagles left the weekend boys basketball series with something that could be better: a desire to work harder.
That desire paid off Saturday when Duke signee Whitehead scored 16 points to help the Eagles knock No. 3 Sunrise Academy (8-1) of Kansas from its unbeaten pedestal, 53-44.
Whitehead also had 7 rebounds and 2 assists for the Eagles (4-1), who were preseason No. 1 in the BallisLife.com Fab 50 boys basketball national rankings. Montverde lost 65-64 to second-ranked Florida rival IMG Academy (3-1) before it beat Sunrise to assure that none of the four teams that participated in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference came out unscathed.
The loss to IMG was only the third at home for Montverde in a span of 11 seasons dating to January 2011.
On Thursday, Montverde will face 9-0 and likely new No. 1 Duncanville, Texas, at the HoopHall West event in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Eagles will also face fellow NIBC member Wasatch Academy (4-2) of Utah on Friday.
“Each game is by itself,” Montverde coach Kevin Boyle said. “You have to keep getting better. Last year we lost here to Sunrise and never lost again and ended up being national champion.”
Boyle said Whitehead, University of Florida signee Malik Reneau and Indiana signee Jalen Hood-Schifino are showing the eight new Eagles the work ethic it takes to build a champion.
Whitehead said the Eagles are working to strengthen their bond. He said that IMG actually pushed the Eagles in that direction.
“This year’s a special group of guys. Off the court we get closer and closer,” Whitehead said. “Most importantly, the loss yesterday changed the vision of how this year will be. Now we’ll be more focused in the locker room and practice, and the loss yesterday was something we needed.”
Boyle said IMG’s guardheavy lineup presented problems for the Eagles. He said Montverde had a size advantage inside, but IMG (3-1) had a perimeter edge. Sunrise more closely mirrored Montverde’s size makeup.
Montverde jumped on the Buffaloes early in each quarter, holding them to 0-of-7 shooting to start the periods.
Dillon Mitchell, a Montverde newcomer who has signed with Texas, and Whitehead helped the Eagles hold off Sunrise’s late comeback attempts. Buffaloes forward Mark Mitchell scored 8 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. But the Eagles also forced him to miss several shots, getting key stops each time the Buffaloes cut the Montverde lead to 9 points.
“We came out with the mindset to erase yesterday and come out and compete,” said Dillon Mitchell, who ended up with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. “I wanted to do everything.”
Reneau added 11 points for the Eagles. He said the Eagles also focused on stopping Sunrise guard Gradey Dick, holding him to 11 points. Dick had three points in the second half.
“We let the defense speak for our offense,” Reneau said.
That defense will face more tests beyond HoopHall West. Boyle said the Eagles could face Oak Hall and IMG at the City of Palms Tournament Dec. 17-22 in Fort Myers. A rematch against Sunrise awaits along with another IMG clash and a game against DeMatha Catholic of the Washington (D.C.) Catholic League.
Boyle said it’s important that the entire team focuses on practices — even the subs.
“If they’re not bringing that type of energy, both starters and subs, you can’t simulate a game situation,” Boyle said. “In the past several years, they did a good job simulating game situations with the depth of talent. This year we’re learning to play hard. I think this is a good weekend, so hopefully we learned from it.”