The opening day of the Grind Session St. Louis event, held at Missouri Baptist University, delivered an action-packed slate of games filled with standout performances, overtime drama, and exciting finishes. Here’s a recap of the first day’s action:
Huntington Prep Dominates Chicago Prep
Final Score: Huntington Prep 102, Chicago Prep 63
Huntington Prep showcased their offensive depth with five players scoring in double figures, taking control just three minutes into the game and never looking back. Braydon Hawthorne led the way with 23 points, while Camron McDaniels and Kam Mercer each contributed 19. Cedric Taylor added 18 points, and Anthony Smith chipped in with 13.
Chicago Prep’s Ethan Samuels and Tristan Ford put up valiant efforts, scoring 25 and 22 points respectively, but they couldn’t keep pace with Huntington Prep’s relentless attack.
Ft. Erie Edges West Oaks in Overtime Thriller
Final Score: Ft. Erie 72, West Oaks 67 (OT)
In one of the day’s most exciting matchups, Ft. Erie and West Oaks battled back and forth before Ft. Erie pulled out a hard-fought win in overtime. The game remained tight throughout, with Ft. Erie taking a 12-point lead in the third quarter only to see West Oaks claw their way back.
Tied at 60-60 after regulation, Ft. Erie’s Tristan Beckford took over in overtime, hitting a clutch jumper to put his team up 69-65 with under a minute remaining. His forced jump ball and free-throw shooting sealed the victory, finishing the game at 72-67.
West Oaks’ Willie Brunett III was the game’s top scorer, putting up 26 points in a valiant effort.
Prolific Prep Overcomes DME in Overtime Showdown
Final Score: Prolific Prep 73, DME 65 (OT)
The highly anticipated Prolific Prep vs. DME matchup lived up to the hype, with Kansas commit Darryn Peterson leading Prolific Prep to a thrilling overtime win. Peterson had a standout performance with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, impressing Kansas head coach Bill Self, who was courtside.
Prolific Prep controlled much of the game, but DME’s defensive intensity late in the fourth quarter forced overtime. In the extra period, Peterson took charge, steering his team to victory. Niko Bundalo, a Washington commit, added 14 points and 6 rebounds to help coach Ryan Bernardi’s squad secure the win.
DME showcased their resilience, pushing the #2-ranked team in the nation to the limit, but Prolific Prep’s star power proved too much in the end.
Day 1 set the tone for an incredible weekend of basketball. Stay tuned for more action as elite high school teams continue to compete at the Grind Session St. Louis event!
