Sunday HoopHall action an endurance test of sorts

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SPRINGFIELD, Ma. – The Sunday action – eight games’ worth – took about 13 ½ hours to complete during the “prep school” competition of the Spalding HoopHall Classic in Blake Arena at Springfield College.

Not that I was counting the minutes down the stretch at all, or anything like it (wink) . . .

And things weren’t a wrap until sophomore Malik Pouncy’s jump shot was just off the rim at the buzzer enabling the MacDuffie School to hold off Commonwealth Academy, 66-65.

Pouncy and his teammates had trailed most of the way until before going ahead by a point on a steal and layup by another sophomore, Derrick Ellis, with 34 seconds to go.

But junior forward Kashaun Hicks scored on a 12-footer leaner in the lane 18 seconds later for MacDuffie and than mega-jumper Unique (yep, that’s his first name) McClean blocked Pouncy’s deep jumper and the ball went out of bounds, setting the stage for that final possession with eight-tenths of a second on the clock.

Monday’s final day of the event gets underway at 9 in the morning with Jersey City St. Anthony taking on Philadelphia Constitution.

A whole boatload of “likely” and “possible” 2015 McDonald’s All-American selections will also be featured in the four other games on tap.

Here are rundowns on the other seven games played on Sunday:

 

*St. Thomas More 83, Vermont Academy 76: University of Connecticut signee Steven Enoch and teammate Sean Hoehn scored 18 points for the winners while junior – at least for the time being – Bruce Brown scored a game-high 23 points for Vermont Academy.

There is speculation – which he has confirmed – that the 6-foot-3 (or so) Brown may “reclassify” and magically become a “senior” shortly. And there are, without question, plenty of high-profile college programs – supposedly Connecticut and Louisville are among him – that would have a letter of intent with his name on it if he does so.

*Northfield Mount Hermon School 80, Tilton School 72: Northwestern signee Aaron Falzon scored 16 points and future University of Pennsylvania center Collin McManus grabbed 14 rebounds for the winners.

Combination guard Terance Mann (who signed with Florida State in November) went for 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals for Tilton School.

*New Hampton School 64, St. Andrew’s School 48: Forward Tyler Lydon, with one of his future college assistants (Mike Hopkins of Syracuse) looking on from a baseline seat, scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds for New Hampton School.

*Huntington St. Joseph Prep 75, Our Savior New American 57: Junior guard Curtis Jones, with 27 points (21 of those coming from behind the arc), was one of four players to score in double figures for the winners.

Cheick Diallo, another lock McDonald’s All-American selection when the team is unveiled on Jan. 28, had 24 points and nine rebounds in a losing cause.

*Life Center Academy 64, Orangeville Prep 50: Malik Ellison – whose dad, former Louisville and NBA post Pervis Ellison is the team’s head coach – went for 28 points and four steals for Life Center Academy.

Heavily touted 7-footer Thon Maker had 23 points and 11 rebounds but really didn’t become a forceful presence until late in the action with his team all but out of reach of Life Center.

*Brewster Academy 100, Montverde Academy Prep 69: Jalen Adams (who signed with Connecticut in November) scored 23 points with six rebounds and five assists as Brewster rolled in a game offered little suspense other in trying to keep track of all of the transition scoring opportunities Brewster was going to capitalize on against a hopelessly overmatched foe.

*Wilbraham & Monson Academy 62, Suffield Academy 57: Guard Ryan Murphy – who is originally from Southern California – scored a team-high 17 points for W&M Academy.