Flyin to the Hoop Recap: Snowstorm has no effect; Baker, McConnell lead Spire to W; Bol Bol shines in victory over USA Today #1; Stars of Day 1

With Flyin to the Hoop underway, we decided to summarize the Opening Night and how the games ended up on a blistery cold snow storm type of night.

Bol Bol, son of former NBA player Manute Bol, was the star of the Night in Flyin.

TOP HEADLINES

Winter Storm doesn't stop fans

The Winter stom that halted every high school game in the Miami Valley area and beyond couldn't stop Flyin to the Hoop in its 15 season.
With snow flying everywhere, blustery winds up to 30 mph, and ice possible, it seemed that all the reasons for cancellation would happen.
Not so fast my peeps.

Horstman, in a exclusive interview with Dayton HS Sports on Wednesday, stated "The show will go on as advertised" & there would be no delay.

And the move worked out, as over 4500 people packed into Trent Arena to  watch some of the best teams in the country, on Friday night.

There were no reported incidents or accidents from the event, which is a good sign.


Former Dunbar players lead Spire Academy to win over Fairmont

The last time Star HS Players Caleb McConnell and Devon Baker were in Trent Arena, they had just fell to Trotwood in the Regional Final as members of the Dunbar Wolverines.

Fast forward 10 months later, and the dynamic duo led rising Prep School Spire Academy to a 80-70 win over the host Fairmont Firebirds in the tipoff game of Flyin'.

Fairmont came out firing, as sharpshooter Jack Hendricks led Fairmont to a 34-25 1st half lead.
On top of that Star PG Devon Baker was scoreless at half.

One of the Fairmont coaches noted that in watching film on Baker, he had went scoreless in the 1st half, then scored 30 in the 2nd half of a game to defeat a opponent.

While he didn't get 30, he scored 22 points, in leading the Lakehawks to a 29-15 take charge type 3rd quarter, and McConnell (19pts, 9 reb, 2 dimes, 2 blks) & F Isaac Mushila (16 pts, 17 reb) helped seal the deal in the 4th, despite the heroics of Hendricks and the hot shooting of Fairmont.

Hendricks dropped 29 on the night, leading all scorers, on 10-17 shooting, including 8-12 from long distance. Teammate Kellan Bochenek also added 18 points to go with 5 boards.




Bol Bol leads Findlay Prep over USA Today #1 

In the Showcase game of the Night, Bol Bol, son of NBA legend Manute Bol, led Findlay Prep to a last minute 50-48 victory over top ranked Huntington Prep as Bol hit the Game winning shot to send Findlay Prep to the win in the Primetime Game of the Night.

With possible 1 and done NBA prospects on both sides, it was a lot of oohing and aaahing as both teams showed incredible defense, athleticism, and good coaching as well.

Top Ranked Huntington Prep works on execution in 50-48 loss in Flyin' on Friday Night

In a game that was tight was the beginning to the end, Bol Bol showed why he is the #4 ranked HS player in the world and why Oregon will be a instant Final Four Candidate with the big man.

Standing at 7'2 Bol has the movement of a 6'7 small forward, and his rebounding (8), shot blocking (2) and altering, and his offensive game merits him as a probable 1 and done prospect in college.

After a baseline jumper by junior (PG)  Johnathan McGriff for Huntington Prep to tie the game at 48, Findlay was able to work the ball around and get a mid range basket by Bol for the difference.

Huntington got off a shot but it was no good and Findlay was able to win the game.

Bol led all scorers with 18, while McGriff led all scorers for Huntington with 14, 5 rebs, & 2 dimes.
Arkansas commit Reggie Chaney also chipped (10 pts, 5 boards) for the winner.
5-star recruit Jaemyn Brakefield had 6 pts, 9 boards, and great D, as he is one of the top players in the 2020 class.

Huntington Prep had started out as a USA Today #1 during the season.



Top Stars in Day 1

Caleb McConnell  - Spire Academy 
Bol Bol  - Findlay Prep                         
Devon Baker  - Spire Academy
Johnathan McGriff  - Huntington Prep
Jack Hendricks  - Fairmont
Isaac Mushila  - Spire Academy
Reggie Chaney - Findlay Prep
Kellan Bochenek - Fairmont
Jaemyn Brakefield - Huntington Prep



Day 2 Games
Springboro  vs Tipp City (Girls)  11:30
Olentangy   vs  Xenia                      1:15
Spire Academy  vs  Hillard Bradley  3pm
Pickerington North  vs Princeton   4:45
McEachern (Ga)   vs Trotwood      6:30    (Game of the Night)
IMG Academy     vs  Prolific Prep  8:15










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Big Winners of Flyin to the Hoop; what Celebrities were there? Wayne stays unbeaten

Here's the recap, highlights and stars of last MLK weekend as the Top National HS Tourney Flyin' To The Hoop went down in the Miami Valley:

Flyin' to the Hoop Headlines:

(1) Wayne defeats IMG,  continue its torrid winning streak as "Father vs Son" game goes down; Trice Family Steals scene with Kenny Smith  

   When it was posted that Wayne would play IMG, Coach Travis Trice knew this would be a special one. His son D'Mitrik, who had led his Wayne team to their 1st ever State hoops title, would be on the court.
  Only this time, dad would be trying to stop his son from defeating his Warriors squad.
  The Warriors did prevail, but it was the theatrics of the Trices and the Jet which provided the entertainment...

Such as:
   Mrs. Trice clownin wit former NBA Champion and TNT analyst Kenny "The Jet" Smith;
  The duel within the duel as the Trice family as  talk ensued in between plays between father and son.

Kenny Smith, Archie Miller, Mrs Trice enjoying the game
 (Courtesy of Image Jock) 

   While Trice admitted he was happy with the win, he wasn't as thrilled with having to stop his son, and Kenny Smith's son as well, en route to the win.

   The Warriors dominated - again- on the big stage as they cruised past IMG.

 Super Soph  L'Christian "Blue" Smith led Wayne with 15.
 D'Mitrik Trice had 2 points and 3 assists  and Smith had 8 as the Warriors stymied IMG offensively.


(2) Top recruit Josh Jackson shines but loses; then gets redemption with GW shot

One of the prized recruits in the country brought his talent here and ended with a bang as Jackson dropped 32 in the first game, then came back in the next game and hit a game winning three-point shot.
    Jackson, 6'6, plays for Prolific prep out of California & is widely considered the top unsigned recruit in the country, with Kansas & Michigan St at the top of his short list.

    After a couple of games, you could see why as the Super-talented Jackson dominated and was the most coveted player in the country.

     Other moments, it seemed he pressed a little, but when you're a top recruit, you will press those buttons sometime.
Overall, 47 points and a Game Winning buzzer beater to finish?
Not too bad for a #1 recruit.


(3) Rising star Seth Towns dominates

It seems that Mr. Towns is taking the snub from McDonald's All-America game quite seriously as he came in and poured a tournament high 40 points and 10 rebounds as Northland earned a victory.            The versatile 6'8 Towns was utterly unstoppable, and showed why Harvard will be getting not only a top-notch future NBA player but a unbelievably smart student.
    Ohio State seemingly let the Columbus native get away, after not really pursuing him to the degree that they should have.
   Towns hasn't taken it personal from most accounts, but his play shows otherwise, and has been running through competition like few others have this season.
 No doubt he's a McDonald's All-American, whether he got the nod or not.
He's that good.




 (4) Trotwood smacks Fairmont on opening night

 Trotwood continued to play winning basketball as they dumped on Fairmont in the flying to the hoop opener opening night.
 Trotwood had just beat Dunbar, and although they started slow, they shut the door on Fairmont by the 3rd quarter.  The more confidence they get, the more they will be a force to be reckoned with.
   Patten led the Rams with 29.



(5) Lima Sr. defeats Thurgood, 

Lima Sr. continued it's winning ways in Dayton as they defeated Thurgood 83-66.
   Michigan recruit Xavier Simpson (20) & Marquavious Wilson (19) led the #2 ranked Spartans to the win.

   Darnell Hoskins Jr. dropped almost half of his teams points (31), but it was not enough as the Spartans played another tough, dominant  performance which has kept them undefeated (10-0) put them right in the talk for a D-1 State Championship.



(6) Northridge drubs Yellow Springs

 Northridge routed Yellow Springs, and send a message to anybody who believe that they were a one-year wonder.
Yellow Springs never had a chance, and Northridge was led by Malik Akbar who had 31.

Nick Ward slams it down vs Dunbar

(7) Dunbar rally falls short,  loses late

The Wolverines came out slow, and fell to Gahanna Lincoln by a score of 67 - 62.  Gahanna was able to get out to a double-digit lead by halftime. Dunbar cut the lead to under 5 in the 4th, but Gahanna's big man Nick Ward (Mich St commit) was able to diffuse the rally - he dominated inside all night, and the Wolverines had no match for him.  was the Wolverines had no match. Terrance Landers Jr. led the Wolverines with 23.


"The Jet", "Izzo" & "Huggy Bear" invade Flyin'


 when you have names such as "The Jet, Izzo, and Huggy Bear coming through your event?

You know you doing good.

   Kenny Smith (TNT analyst), coach Tom Izzo of Michigan State, Archie Miller of UD, and Bob Huggins of West Virginia were just a few of the A-List name celebrity sports figures on hand at Flyin to the Hoop.
 At one point Izzo barked at Flyin' director Eric Horstman,
"How is this event not on TV?"....
meaning why hasn't ESPN picked it up yet?

Usually when a guy the stature of Tom Izzo is saying something like that, look for something to happen in the near future.
Just a testament to how far Flyin' has come.

Kenny "The Jet" Smith praises Dayton Hoops

   And in the words of Kenny Smith, "Shoutout to the Dayton area & Flyin' to the Hoop" is all we need.

Hey we been preaching it for decades. Now the whole country is seeing it for themselves.

Dayton is "The Hotbed for Hoops".

Plain and simple.

And by the way, all 42 teams who participated have said they wanted to come back - already.