Montverde Academy humbles IMG Academy in a Top 5 boys basketball showdown

Derick Queen pours in 25 points to go with 13 rebounds in 17-point victory.

Montverde Academy broke loose from a 16-16 tie at the end of one quarter and went on to rout IMG Academy, 86-69, on the Eagles home court, Thursday night, in a Top 25 national boys basketball showdown.

Derick Queen led the Eagles with 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Asa Newell netted 18 points with five rebounds. The Eagles also got 13 points from Duke commit Cooper Flagg and 12 from Laim McNeeley. In addition, Robert Wright had 11 points, 5 assists and rebounds.

IMG Academy was led by Donovan Freeman's 20 points and nine rebounds. Amari Allen and Darius Acuff each scored 12 points for the Ascenders.

Montverde took charge with a 26-14 second quarter surge and took complete control by outscoring IMG 21-8 in the third quarter.

Below is our Live Update feed. Read from the bottom up to get our game flow from start to finish.

FINAL: MONTVERDE ACADEMY 86, IMG ACADEMY 69

- Derik Queen finishes with a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds.

- Montverde Academy will welcome Columbus for a nationally televised Top 3 battle on Friday night.

4Q: MONTVERDE ACADEMY 86, IMG ACADEMY 69

- That will do it. Montverde romps to a 86-69 victory to improve to 5-0.

- Ace Flagg, Copper's brother, gets in the scorebook with a free throw.

- Both teams empty the benches. We're in the final minute.

- McNeely is feeling it now. Hits a three from the corner.

- Queen with a rebound and put-back. He leads all scorers with 25. 1:37 left.

- We're under 3:30 to play and Montverde continues to dominate, 77-54.

- McNeely gets another two. Eagles 73-51.

- Darius Acuff with a nice score in the lane but he misses the And One. Newell makes him pay with a fast break dunk. He now has 16.

3Q: MONTVERDE ACADEMY 63, IMG ACADEMY 38

- Indiana commit Liam McNeely gets his first hoop and one. 63-38 at the end of three.

- It's too easy. Eagles feed Queen in the paint for two. 

- Queen gets a fast-break slam. 52-34.

- Givens with a 3. The lead grows to 20 with 4:40 left in the third.

- Flagg with a slam and Queen with a 3-point play. Eagles lead by 17.

- Queen leads Montverde with 12 points and 4 rebounds. Newell as 12 and Flagg has scored 7 with 3 rebounds. Donnie Freeman netted 8 for IMG.

HALF: MONTVERDE ACADEMY 42, IMG ACADEMY 30

2Q: MONTVERDE ACADEMY 42, IMG ACADEMY 30

- Flagg to Curtis Givens for the score. Eagles lead 42-30 at the half.

- Montverde leads 38-29 with less than minute to play in the half.

- Kareem Stagg with a huge put-back slam for IMG.

- Wright with a pair of free throws followed by another driving hoop. Eagles open up an 8-point lead.

- Queen dominating inside. Eagles up by five.

- Newell with a dunk, Montverde leads 26-23.

- 7-7 Oliver Rioux with a put-back. 20-20 with 6:41 left in the half.

- Cooper Flagg shows his post work with a baby hook in the paint. Tied at 18-18.

END 1Q: MONTVERDE ACADEMY 16, IMG ACADEMY 16

1Q: MONTVERDE ACADEMY 16, IMG ACADEMY 16

- Rob Wright with a driving lay-up and as Montverde goes back on top. Donnie Freeman counters for IMG. We're tied 16-16 at the end of one.

- Allen stays hot, IMG rallied to an 11-9 lead with 2:37 to play in first quarter.

- Duke recruit Cooper Flagg hits first jumper and converts 3-point play. Asa Nowell also scores two hoops for Eagles, 9-4

- Teams trade blocks and a few shoves, IMG leads 4-2 after a hoop by Amari Allen. 5:50 left in 1st quarter.

- Game is underway. Derik Queen scores to give Montverde the first points.

MONTVERDE ACADEMY VS. IMG ACADEMY

- Tip-off is 7:00 p.m.


-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl


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Andy Villamarzo
ANDY VILLAMARZO

Andy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007, writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Suncoast News, Tampa Beacon, Hernando Sun to name a few. Andy resides out of the Tarpon Springs, FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area. He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports, appearing frequently on podcasts, radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings, recruiting and much more.