MIDDLE VILLAGE, N.Y. – Just after knocking off top ranked Miami (Fla.) Country Day, New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) coach Sam Caldwell said he and his No. 8 Tigers were convinced that they were the No. 1 team in the country “we just have to show everybody else.”
On Saturday they took a big step in proving that claim, knocking off No. 2 St. John’s High School (Washington, D.C.) 45-34 to win the GEICO High School Nationals title.
Delicia Pinnick led the Tigers with 13 points and Kylie Kornegay-Lucas added 11 points. Tigers guard Jayda Walker scored nine points and was named tournament MVP.
Azzi Fudd led the Cadets with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Both teams opened the game misfiring badly, but the Tigers managed to string together a short run midway through the second quarter to take a 17-12 lead at the half.
The Tigers held Fudd to just 1-of-11 from the field and two points.
In the second half, Fudd passed up on jump shots and opted to drive into the lane, drawing fouls, drawing the defense and kicking out and finishing with floaters.
By the 2:46 mark of the third quarter the Cadets had regained the lead 26-23 after back-to-back threes from Carly Rivera.
The Tigers regained the 34-32 lead with 4:51 left in regulation on Kornegay-Lucas’ layup then turned three steals into five points to extend the lead.
The Tigers held Fudd, the ALL-USA Player of the Year, without a three-pointer all game.
Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY
