Two first-time winners claim Chick-fil-A Classic basketball championships
John Marshall ran through a strong field on its way to its first Chick-fil-A Classic championship.
The Richmond, Virginia high school defeated two nationally ranked opponents, including a 68-55 victory Friday over Wheeler (Ga.) to win the American Bracket title at River Bluff High School.
The Justices defeated Columbus (Fla.) on Thursday to make it to the championship game. Columbus High was No. 12 in ESPN’s high school rankings, while Wheeler was 17th.
“I’m proud of our young men who accepted the challenge,” JM coach Ty White said. “They competed our butts off. It is a testament of their hard work. They put in a lot of work and a lot of man hours in. I’m just proud of them.”
It was John Marshall’s second tournament appearance. The Justices are the first Virginia school since Oak Hill in 2017 to win a bracket championship. Oak Hill holds the tournament record with four titles.
While John Marshall doesn’t have the national notoriety like Oak Hill, it is building quite a resume of its own. The Justices have won four Virginia Class 2A state championships since 2014.
“We believe in who we are,” White said. “It is up to other people to see who we are. We are confident in what we do. We believe in trusting what God has for us. To God be the glory for this opportunity.”
North Carolina State signee Dennis Parker led JM with 23 points in the win. Guard Damon Thompson added 17 points and was named the bracket’s MVP.
Thompson led the tournament in scoring at 21 points per game.
Freshman Latrell Almond had 16 points and guard Jason Rivera added 12 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Rivera also earned all-tournament honors.
John Marshall led 39-29 at halftime, but Wheeler cut the lead to 50-45 on an Isaiah Collier basket with 3:52 in the third quarter.
John Marshall dominated inside with a 40-20 advantage in points in the paint and out-rebounded them 41-25.
Southern California signees Arrinten Page and Collier led Wheeler with 18 points and 13 points, respectively. Both earned all-tournament honors.
Huntington Prep wins National Bracket
John Marshall was one of two first-time tournament winners in the Classic. Huntington Prep (WVa.) defeated IMG Academy 67-46 to win the National Bracket championship.
It was Huntington’s second championship appearance. The Express lost to Oak Hill in 2015
Ronald Jessamy scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds while Larry Johnson had 16 points and Maki Johnson added 11.. Larry Johnson earned Most Outstanding Player honors. Maki Johnson was named Most Valuable Player for the bracket.
Georgia Tech signee Blue Cain led IMG Academy with 12 points.
Friday’s Scores
National Bracket
Seventh-place
Oak Hill (Va) 52, Providence Day (NC) 40
OH: Drayton Jones 16, Dontae Russo-Nance 15, Kaden Magwood 10, Mitchell 5, Holloway 4, Robinson 2. PDS: Riley Allenspach 16, Hailey 7, Thompson 6, Haynes 6, Robinson 3, Winston 2.
Fifth-place game
Southern California Academy 48, Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) 33
SCA: Fielder 7, Felton 3, Garway Dual 20, A. Johnson 4, Green 6, D. Johnson 5, Economou 3. HP: Johnson 3, Aiden Sherrell 14, Miller 5, Bridges 8, Jones 3.
Third-place game
The Rock School (Fla.) 61, Calvary Christian (Fla.) 54
CC: Carl Cherenfant 13, Warren 8, Lathan 9, Abaev 6, Jaylen Curry 11, Eduardo 3, Roland 4. TRS: Sterck 9, Sammie Yeanay 18, R. Jones 7, D. Jones 8, Kameren Wright 13, Massamba 6.
Championship
Huntington Prep (WV) 67, IMG Academy (Fla.) 46
HP: Ronald Jessamy 18, Larry Johnson 16, Maki Johnson 11, Jones 8, Tingler 6, McCullum 4, Ntambwe 4. IMG: Blue Cain 12, Tucker 9, Kaiser 9, Hutchinson 7, Hastings 6, Rooths 2, Jones 1.
American Bracket
Seventh-place
Lexington 65, River Bluff 50
L: Bell 8, Cam Scott 22, Kaleb Evans 15, Jose Figueroa 11, Prunty 6, Byrd 3. RB: Omari Caldwell 20, Luke Chapman 11, Wright 8, Cromer 1, Renner 5, Cordero 3, Powell 2.
Fifth Place
Greensboro Day (NC) 46, AC Flora 36
GD: Jaydon Young 20, Bachman 6, Otto 5, Newkirk 5, Moody 3, Stainback 3, Reece 2, Carrier 2. ACF: Christopher Parker 14, Wiley 7, Higgins 6, Gray 5, Maxwell-Timms 4.
Third Place
Columbus (Fla) 70, Keenan 38
C: Cameron Boozer 18, Malik Abdullahi 14, Cayden Boozer 13, Garyn Bess 12, Fragela 8, Feenane 5. K: Chrisean Oree 14, Golston 7, Sumpter 5, McCullough 4, King 4, Elam 2, Broderick Anderson 2.
Championship
John Marshall (Va.) 68, Wheeler (Ga.) 55
JM: Dennis Parker 23, Latrell Almond 16, Damon Thompson 17, Jason Rivera 12. W: Arrinten Page 18, Mitchell 8, Isaiah Collier 13, Jelani Hamilton 11, Hill 5.
All-Tournament Teams
National Bracket
Jaylen Curry, Calvary Christian; Riley Allenspach, Providence Day; Aiden Sherrell, Hillcrest Prep; Garway Dual, Southern Cal Academy; Bryson Tucker, IMG
MVP: Maki Johnson, Huntington Prep
Most Outstanding Player: Larry Johnson. Huntington Prep
American Bracket
Jaydon Young, Greensboro Day; Arrinten Page, Wheeler, Isaiah Collier, Wheeler; Jason Rivera John Marshall; Cayden Boozer, Columbus
Most Outstanding Player: Cam Boozer, Columbus
MVP: Damon Thompson, John Marshall
This story was originally published December 30, 2022 at 11:23 PM.
