IMG Academy (Fla.) pulls off another comeback, stuns La Lumiere (Ind.) in City of Palms Classic
After pulling out a double-overtime win on Thursday, it looked like IMG Academy (Fla.) had run out of steam on Friday night in its City of Palms Classic quarterfinal matchup against La Lumiere (Ind.).
The top-ranked team in the Hoosier State led for over 28 minutes of game time and had a lead as large as 17 points at the end of the third quarter. But the Ascenders continued to fight.
Star point guard Darius Acuff and elite power forward Sadiq White willed IMG back to within 10 points with just six minutes to go in the game. The Lakers went cold on offense, allowing for a monumental 11-0 run that somehow vaulted the Ascenders to a 69-68 lead with less than three minutes to play.
The teams then traded buckets before Acuff drove to the rack for a big-time layup, putting IMG up 3 with 17 seconds left. La Lumiere had two chances to send the game into overtime, but were unable to cash in as the in-state program once again Houdini-ed its way to victory, 78-75.
Acuff finished with 33 points on 11-27 shooting, including six 3-pointers. The five-star Arkansas signee played all 32 minutes and also had six assists. White, a four-star Syracuse signee, compiled a 22-point, 15-board double-double.
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La Lumiere played just six players, four of whom finished in double figures. Senior combo guard Melvin Bell led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds. Jalen Haralson added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Darius Adams had 14 points, three boards and three assists.
City of Palms semifinals features four Florida programs
The City of Palms Classic final four is now set. IMG will now take on No. 6 Columbus (Fla.), while No. 7 Oak Ridge and No. 11 Montverde Academy will battle on the other side for a spot in the championship. It will be the first time since 1986 that all four semifinalists in the event hail from Florida, according to the News-Press’ Alex Martin.
Top performers from Day Two of the City of Palms Classic can be found HERE.
The On3 Composite High School Basketball Team Ranking is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings listed in the public domain by respected High School media and data companies. It includes Massey, Max Preps, ESPN and SI, creating the industry’s most comprehensive and geographically balanced High School Team Ranking.
More about the City of Palms Classic
A brief history on the City of Palms Classic from the tournament website:
“In December 1973, the City of Palms Classic began, like so many events, as a simple, local Christmas basketball tournament — the brainchild of legendary Edison Community College head coach Hugh Thimlar and a small group of high school coaches and administrators. Over the years, the “City of Palms Classic” (named by Donnie Wilkie in 1987) has grown and expanded its scope to include many of the nation’s finest players and teams, setting the standard during the past four decades by which all other holiday basketball tournaments are compared.”