NIBC Title Primer: Montverde Academy-Sunrise Christian Set for Round Three
In January, No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy rallied to hold off No. 2 Sunrise Christian (Wichita, Kan.) in the friendly confines of their home gym. In February, the Buffaloes drained clutch shots to force overtime and ultimately picked off the Eagles, ending a 44-game winning streak dating back to 2019.
Despite Montverde holding down the No. 1 spot in the FAB50, opinions abound about who the true No. 1 team in the country is.
On Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3), the Eagles and the Buffaloes will settle the debate, this time for the NIBC conference title.
Here are the key storylines headed into the big matchup.
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Who can shake off the rust quicker?
Neither team has played in roughly a month and both teams seemingly suffered from the proverbial “big game hangover” turning in less-than-stellar performances following their round two meeting on Feb. 5. Expect significant rust due to the lack of rhythm early on. Both play an uptempo style, but the Eagles are more efficient in the paint with Jalen Duren anchoring. Still, Sunrise’s ability to penetrate and finish or penetrate-and-kick was devastating for Montverde late in the second meeting. Whoever can impose their will could gain a critical advantage in the highly-anticipated matchup.
Kennedy Chandler is the No. 1 point guard in the SI99. (Photo: NIBC)
Can the Eagles contain Kennedy Chandler?
As he is for all teams he faces, Chandler, a Tennessee signee, was a nightmare for Montverde in the last meeting, scoring 19 points, including the game-tying 3-pointer to send the game to overtime. To say it’s a tall order to stop the top point guard in the SI99 would be severely understating it, but the Eagles will have to find a better way to contain Chandler. Whether it’s in transition or in the halfcourt, he’s a master at controlling pace and a devastating scoring threat on all three levels. His IQ is off the charts and he’s the ultimate competitor. That said, the Eagles have the personnel and a plethora of defensive schemes that could potentially present challenges for Chandler. Containing his effectiveness will be vital to Montverde’s chances to avenge the February loss.
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Can the Buffaloes contain Jalen Duren?
Duren is arguably the most dominant full-time low post presence in the country, regardless of class. Establishing him early will be high on Kevin Boyle’s list of priorities in round three. The question will be whether the Buffaloes can limit his touches and crowd him enough to keep him off balance. Problem is, Duren is equally dominant on the defensive end and changes the whole defensive look because of his ability as a rim protector. If Duren establishes himself offensively early, particularly from the mid-range, that could spell doom for Sunrise.
Can the Eagles limit the effectiveness of Buffaloes perimeter players?
Containing Chandler is its own issue, but, to some degree, you have to live with the No. 1 point guard doing “No. 1 point guard things.” What Montverde can’t afford is for Chandler’s backcourt mates, Kendall Brown and Gradey Dick, to combine for 31 points again. Brown, a Baylor signee, got to his spots at-will in the last meeting and finished efficiently all night, while Dick, a Kansas commit, made key plays on both ends of the floor down the stretch, including a clutch 3-pointer with under 10 seconds remaining in regulation to cut into the Eagles’ lead. Montverde can’t afford for all three Buffaloes to contribute to that level and expect to win.
No. 1 seed on the line?
The formal announcement for this year’s GEICO Nationals High School Invitational hasn’t come yet, but the smart money is on Montverde and Sunrise grabbing bids. With GEICO tipping in April, Friday’s winner will likely earn the coveted No. 1 seed as they pursue the national title. The Eagles are no strangers to the top seed, earning that spot multiple times, but the Buffaloes have yet to claim the top spot at GEICO.