It’s typically a high-octane, high-skill game when Montverde and IMG Academy play.
At least in the first half. From there, host Montverde took over and cruised to an 82-64 win on Jan. 7.
Montverde set the tone early, taking a 10-3 lead in the first quarter on a transition dunk from Joe Philon. IMG chipped away at the lead after going 5-of-9 from deep in the opening quarter, and the Eagles entered the second frame clinging to a 17-16 lead.
Montverde began to run away with the game midway through the second quarter. Oneal Delancy hit the first of many 3-pointers, followed by an outlet dunk by Philon off an Ascender turnover. Delancy came down and buried another 3 less than a minute later, increasing Montverde’s lead to 33-25. A third 3-pointer from Delancy extended the lead to 44-31 before the end of the half.
All told, the Eagles scored 27 points while going 9-of-14 from the floor in the second quarter.
Montverde maintained control after halftime
The second quarter gave Montverde some breathing room, but the third quarter shored up the win. As IMG struggled to finish at the rim (24 points in the paint as a team), the Eagles caught fire from deep.
Montverde went 4-of-8 on 3-pointers in the quarter, helping stretche the Eagle lead. A 35-footer from Delancy took the air out of IMG’s bench with less than two minutes left in the third quarter and gave Montverde a 67-46 advantage.
Derek Daniels started the fourth quarter with a pair of thunderous dunks for Montverde, and the final frame was mostly a victory lap for Montverde. As impressive as their offensive efficiency was (31-of-52 from the floor as a team), the Eagle offense took advantage by limiting turnovers. Montverde finished the win with just one giveaway and 18 assists.
“Our defense tonight, and the way we shared the ball,” said Montverde coach Steve Turner. “I think we had 10 assists in the first half with one turnover. When you can do those things and have a lot of assists like that, it makes the game a lot easier for us.”
Daniels finished with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting with five boards and three assists. Philon went 6-of-8 from the floor for 16 points.
Delancy tallied 19 points after going 5-of-7 from deep. He added five boards and two assists to the winning effort.
“I was feeling it it,” Delancy said. “My teammates fed it for me. They were driving downhill, kicking it to me. I’m getting it through the offense. So it’s all big for me. I was hot, my teammates knew that and found me. It was ultimately a great game for me.”
Jermal Jones Jr. led IMG with 12 points. Chase Foster finished with 11 points, while Ahmadou Touray and Maxime Meyer added 10 points each.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Montverde cruises past IMG Academy in clash of basketball powerhouses
Reporting by Nick Wilson, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
