{"id":167071,"date":"2019-04-06T15:02:49","date_gmt":"2019-04-06T22:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bilcomprd.wpengine.com\/?p=167071"},"modified":"2023-03-21T14:25:05","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T21:25:05","slug":"img-academy-wins-first-ever-geico-nationals-crown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/img-academy-wins-first-ever-geico-nationals-crown\/","title":{"rendered":"IMG Academy Wins First-Ever GEICO Nationals Crown!"},"content":{"rendered":"

FAB 50 No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) used a balanced attack and put pressure on La Lumiere to play from behind, and the Ascenders never let their foot off the gas, winning 66-55 to hand the Lakers their first loss of the season. With the win, IMG Academy captured its first GEICO Nationals championship. <\/strong>Read on for key facts, key stats and the turning point in the title game.
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\nR<\/strong>ELATED: <\/strong>Subscribe on iTunes to new \"In the Paint Show\u201d podcast <\/a>  | GEICO Nationals Breakdown<\/a> | GEICO Nationals All-Time Records<\/a>  | GEICO Nationals Bracket\/TV Listings<\/a>  | Latest Mr. Basketball USA Tracker<\/a> | GIECO Quarterfinals Recap<\/a> | GEICO Semifinals Recap<\/a>
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No. 4 IMG Academy (Brandenton, Fla.) 66, No. 1 La Lumiere (La Portne, Ind.) 55<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Quick Summary:<\/strong> The Ascenders played a confident and complete game and never trailed. They got out to a quick start, paced by two early 3-pointers by Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and led 15-8 after one period. La Lumiere, which lost its first game of the season, battled valiantly, but was working extremely hard for quality field goal attempts all game long. The Lakers, who trailed 31-26 at halftime, hurt themselves by taking some ill-advised jumpers in the second half that led to easy scores in transition for the Ascenders. La Lumiere's game plan was to pound the ball inside-out through Mr. Basketball USA Isaiah Stewart, but the Lakers didn't shoot it well enough from the perimeter, as the Ascenders did a good job of closing out on shooters and keeping the Lakers' secondary players from having an offensive impact. La Lumiere seemed to have some momentum on its side after a 3-pointer by Gerald Drumgoole and a steal and an underneath bucket by point guard Wendell Green Jr. to cut its deficit to 45-41 with under 30 seconds left in the third quarter, but IMG Academy freshman Jarace Walker (five points) hit a critical 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in the period to give his team a 48-41 lead entering the final period. IMG Academy didn't tire, made solid decisions offensively and was able to counter whatever La Lumiere did offensively and push its lead to double-digits in the final period.<\/p>\n

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Been an @IMGABasketball<\/a> hammer fest in the second half ? pic.twitter.com\/gG8cxIIW91<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Who's Next (@WhosNextHS) April 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n