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Dynamic Prep (Texas) routs Link Academy (Mo.) in Chipotle Nationals quarterfinals

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Pope•04/03/25•

bykeeganpope

Syndication: Naples Daily News
Dynamic Prep forward Jaden Toombs (1) shoots the ball during the second quarter of the City of Palms Classic signature series championship game against the Bullis Bulldogs at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dynamic Prep (Texas) made a statement on Wednesday night in the play-in game at Chipotle Nationals, dominating national powerhouse Montverde Academy (Fla.) in a double-digit win. Less than 24 hours later, the Bearcats put on an even more impressive display, routing No. 2 seed Link Academy (Mo.) 74-55 to secure a berth in the semifinals on Friday.

Dynamic already beat the Lions earlier this year, but Thursday’s performance was on an entirely different level. The teams battled throughout the first quarter, as both came out hot from the field and ended the first frame with Dynamic leading 18-16.

The second quarter went almost entirely in the other direction, as the teams combined to shoot 9-for-33 from the field. Still, Dynamic went into the halftime break with a 31-25 lead — a bit of a surprise given Link’s dominance throughout the season. The Bearcats couldn’t be stopped on the offensive end though, and the third quarter was a perfect example of that.

Led by SMU signees Jaden Toombs and Jermaine O’Neal Jr., they jumped on Link early in the third quarter and never let up. By the end of those eight minutes, Dynamic had extended its lead to 57-33, outscoring the Lions 26-8 to in the quarter.

The Bearcats shot a blazing 12 of 19 from the field and did so while not making a single free throw during that frame. For the game, Dynamic shot 49.2 percent from the field and also won the battle in the paint, outscoring Link 40-26.

Toombs ultimately carried the day with 22 points and 7 rebounds, while O’Neal and Ja’Cobe Coleman added 12 points apiece.

Link’s star trio of Davion Hannah (Alabama), Chris Cenac (Houston), and Jerry Easter (USC) struggled all day, combining for only 21 points on 7-for-25 shooting.

The Lions, who won the first-ever Nike EYBL Scholastic tournament last month, finish the season 22-9. Dynamic Prep moves on to face Prolific Prep out of California on Friday, which won an 81-80 overtime thriller over Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) in the first game of the day.

About the Chipotle Nationals

More on the major event via the Chipotle Nationals’ website:

“The National High School Invitational (NHSI) was created in 2009 by Paragon Marketing Group to provide a platform for the top, nationally ranked high school basketball teams in the country to compete against one another in a season-ending tournament.

Over the course of fifteen-years, this event (previously titled DICK’S Nationals and GEICO Nationals, taking place in DC, NYC, FL) has crowned the best high school basketball teams in the country. In 2024, the event moved to IN and became the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals aka ‘Chipotle Nationals’.”