On Friday, the Montverde Academy Boys’ Varsity Basketball Eagles won their season opener against Pebblebrook High School, from Mableton, Georgia, by the score of 76-70. The Eagles struggled to find steady momentum throughout much of the first three quarters of the game. But the team’s overall energy, focus, and collective efforts was visible to all those in attendance – as MVA would tie, then fell behind, then tie – in what turned out to be quite an exciting game. With great team hustle and aggressive determination, the Eagles came from behind to secure their win late in the 4th quarter, as they wore down Wheeler with awesome full-court press pressure. 6-9 sophomore center Simi Shittu was fundamentally sound with both his offensive shooting and rebounding. He was also stellar from the foul line throughout – especially late when the game was constantly close. Senior guard senior guard Howard Washington demonstrated focused defense and gutsy leadership, while returning 6-9 center sophomore E.J. Montgomery, 6-7 sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa, 6-10 center Micah Potter, and 6’9 senior Bruno Fernandoprovided intense support both offensively and defensively for the Montverde Academy Eagles. Before the game, the 1912 Society held a wonderful HAPPY HOUR SOCIAL that helped to create a supportive atmosphere of Eagle spirit that set the tone for a brief pregame ceremony – the unveiling of MVA’s 2015 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School Boys’ National Tournament Championship Banner presented to Montverde Academy by Mr. Phillip Birkbeck, a representative from DICK’S. For more on the opening game victory, please visit the following Daily Commercial article, “Eagles open quest for fourth straight national title,” by Frank Jolley.
On Saturday night, MVA hosted Wheeler High School, from Marietta, Georgia, the only team to have defeated the Eagles last season. According to the most recent USA TODAY Sports Super 25, Montverde enters the season ranked No. 2 in the Super 25; Wheeler is ranked No. 18. But this season, it would be Montverde Academy’s Boys’ Varsity Basketball defeating Wheeler High School – coincidently by the same score MVA defeated Pebblebrook the night before – 76-70. MVA led most all of the game and demonstrated both poise and confidence – especially be connecting with their outside 3-point jumpers, and wearing down their opponent with a late game steady barrage of full court press – which included many defensive traps that disrupted Wheeler’s offensive flow and contributed to several key Wheeler turnovers the Eagles converted into points that helped to maintain a lead and secure the win. Simi Shittu led the 2-0 Montverde Academy Boys’ Varsity Basketball Eagles with 20 points.
