This past Sunday, Denver was the setting for an exhilarating day of high-stakes Grind Session basketball, where elite high school teams battled for dominance in multiple conferences. From nail-biting finishes to stellar individual performances, the action did not disappoint.
The day tipped off with Iowa United from the Power Conference taking on Chicago Prep. Iowa United surged to a commanding 80-60 victory, fueled by a dominant 27-point, 12-rebound double-double from Arafan Diane. Kaleel Sutton-White also put up a solid performance, contributing 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal. Chicago Prep’s standout was Tristian Ford, who dropped 25 points, grabbed 12 boards, and dished out 3 assists, while Ethan Samuels chipped in with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
In an impressive showing in the Revolution Conference, Albuquerque Prep edged out Elite Prep in a thrilling 92-90 game that had fans on the edge of their seats. Bella Hines delivered an unforgettable performance, racking up 50 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, helping Albuquerque pull away in the final two minutes. Elite Prep’s Oliviyah Edwards fought hard, scoring 29 points with 15 rebounds, while Sara Mangan nailed 4 of 11 shots from three-point range, finishing with 18 points.
On the women’s side, AZ Compass flexed their prowess with a dominant 88-55 win over Grind Prep. De’Andra Minor led the scoring for AZ Compass with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. Grind Prep saw a strong effort from Ivana Djikanovic, who posted 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block, with Alexiz Graise adding 15 points.
The Elevation Conference brought two close contests. Minnesota Prep narrowly edged out Grind Prep, 95-92, in a back-and-forth battle that saw five Minnesota players score in double figures. Jayln Patterson led the charge with 22 points, while Rylan McPipe and Isiah Ayala contributed 19 points each. Grind Prep’s Christian Gilliland was impressive with 30 points, and Daniel Lovato dominated the boards, pulling down 12 rebounds.
AZ Compass Grind men returned to the court later in the day, claiming a decisive 79-55 victory over Elite Prep. Their balanced scoring and board control, with four players in double figures and a commanding 51 rebounds, proved to be too much for Elite. Bilal Osman led Elite Prep’s effort with 17 points, but AZ Compass’s depth carried the day.
Phoenix Prep closed the event in an offensive showdown against Tri-City Prep, winning 99-89. Phoenix was led by Caden Bass and Marcus McDonald, both scoring 20 points. Tri-City Prep’s Harry Shellhammer put on a scoring clinic with 37 points and 6 rebounds, but his remarkable effort couldn’t keep pace with Phoenix Prep’s relentless attack.
This Denver event showcased the best of Grind Session talent, with breakout stars and impressive team play. From record-breaking individual performances to tight finishes, Sunday’s games set the bar high for the rest of the season. The Grind Session moves on to Boston and then Toronto for our next events. Remember all action can be seen on Tanager Sports at www.tanagerspots.tv.
