Findlay Prep Actually Defeated Winter Park (But)
(Clipped from Hoopmasters)
Henderson, NV Findlay Prep 86 - Winter Park, FL 75
The main event of the evening featured an offensive explosion in the opening quarter as Austin Rivers (Winter Park) and Cory Joseph (Findlay) both went into double figures in the opening quarter scoring 10 points each as Winter Park held a 22-21 lead at the end of one as Rivers scored on a lay-in at the buzzer. It remained close for the first half of the quarter as Rivers and Joseph continued to light it up. It was tied at 37-all with three minutes to play in the quarter when Joseph, Tristan Thompson, and Nick Johnson combined for an 11-3 run to end the half to put Findlay up 48-40 at the break. Joseph led all scorers with 21 points, while Johnson added 14 points and Thompson chipped in with 11 points. Austin Rivers led Winter Park with 15 points, but no other Wildcat made it into double figures as John David Swanson was there number two scorer with 8 points.
Findlay maintained there lead as 6-9 Tristan Thompson picked up the slack for Cory Joseph, scoring 9 points in the third to help maintain their lead as Findlay headed into the final period on top by ten, 66-56, over Winter Park. Both Joseph (4 points) Rivers (6 points) cooled some in the third. The fourth quarter started with five quick points by Findlay's Jabari Brown as they extended their lead to fifteen, 71-56, over Winter Park. But the Wildcats weren't dead yet as they chipped away at the lead to pull within six, 77-71 on five straight points by 6-1 Isaac Turner. But, when they needed Austin Rivers, who had struggled from the field, to step up and take the game over down the stretch. He just didn't do it, for whatever reason he seemed reluctant to take the shot we've seen him take so many times before as Findlay made just enough free throws, to stay in control and win a hard fought win 86-75 over Winter Park.
Findlay Prep was led by Cory Joseph who finished with 27 points, he received solid support from Tristan Thompson with 23 points, Nick Johnson who finished with 19 points and Jabari Brown who finished with 13 points (all in the second half). Winter Park was led by Austin Rivers who finished with 22 points (only one in the fourth quarter), while Isaac Turner added 15 points and Brett Comer chipped in with 13 points.
Note: Winter Park will advance into the quarter-finals, since Findlay Prep doesn't meet certain state association requirements for competition and will drop into the consolation bracket. It was a confusing explanation, but unfortunately all it means is we will not see the best match-up in the final this great field offered.
