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Link Academy (Mo.) takes down Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) for Nike EYBL Scholastic title

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Pope•03/08/25•

bykeeganpope

Syndication: Florida Times-Union
Basketballs rest beside the court before a high school girls basketball game in Jacksonville, Florida, between Bishop Kenny and Oakleaf on January 19, 2023. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union] 011923 Stock Basketball

Missouri powerhouse Link Academy is headed to next month’s Chipotle Nationals after locking in a berth with their 74-71 win Saturday over Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) in the Nike EYBL Scholastic title game.

The Lions, led by stars Jerry Easter, Chris Cenac and Trent Perry, are the first-ever winners of the inaugural event, which features some of the nation’s top prep schools facing off. Both teams traded blows throughout the game, with Link taking a 37-34 lead into halftime.

They opened the game red-hot, shooting 8-for-11 from the field and knocking down 3 of 5 free throws. Lutheran responded in the second quarter, knocking in 7 of their 13 attempts led by the star trio of Kiyan Anthony, Dylan Mingo and Kayden Mingo. The Crusaders kept the deficit to three at the half, but couldn’t outrun Link’s offense.

Both squads scorched the nets in the third frame, but Link was able to extends it lead to eight going into the final quarter.

LuHi eventually closed within one late in the fourth quarter, but Cenac and Easter took over toward the end to keep the Crusaders at bay. Cenac, a Houston signee, hit one of two free throws in the final seconds to extend the lead to 74-71. Anthony had a last-ditch heave at the buzzer in an attempt to tie it, but didn’t come close and the Lions escaped.

Cenac paced the Lions with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 blocks on 9-for-11 shooting, while Perry (16) and Easter (15) both were in double-figures. Kayden Mingo, meanwhile, had 22 of his own on 8/14 shooting, with his brother Dylan contributing 17 and Anthony adding 16 on 4/6 shooting from behind the arc.