Army National Guard Main Event Day One Storylines

December 7, 2024 by Trent Watson

Day one of the Army National Guard Main Event in Miami Florida has concluded and the action packed lineup kept us all on the edge of our seats from start to finish. Teams representing the DMV, California, Florida and Texas all showcased their talent. If you weren’t able to tune into the action today, here’s some storylines from opening day. 

Riviera Prep opens up with a statement win 

Riviera Prep took down SoCal Academy 68-57 in game one of our Main Event behind an efficient scoring performance from Mason Fuentes. Fuentes started off the game in a nice rhythm, hitting some early jumpers and showcasing his confidence in his in-between game. Although Mason Fuentes would go on to lead them in scoring, the win was a total team effort. His Brother, Myles Fuentes kept the halfcourt offense organized and made timely baskets down the stretch. Jeremy Jenkins had an impactful performance, especially in the first half with his forceful scoring inside. Seven-foot center Gustavo Guimarães was the unsung hero in the win for Riviera, owning the glass and using his verticality to be a rim protector defensively. WVU commit Kelvin Odih was a bright spot for SoCal Academy, finishing with a double-double and leaving his fingerprints all over the floor with his elite motor. Alexandros Alexakis showcased some positive things as well with some added offensive firepower off the bench, utilizing his size from the guard position to get to his spots. 

Gonzaga’s toughness earns them the edge over Oak Ridge

Gonzaga College High School had to grind out a 62-51 win over Oak Ridge behind a dominant performance from Virginia Tech commit Christian Gurdak. Oak Ridge had no answer for Gurdak on the interior, finishing with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Gurdak’s activity around lead to ample second chance opportunities, with Gurdak often giving second, third and fourth efforts when attacking the offensive glass. His strength and wide frame allowed him to seal defenders off, leveraging deep post position to score around the rim. Harvard commit Alex Touomou gave great minutes, impacting the floor on both ends of the floor. Lengthy defender who forced the Pioneers into tough shots, and lived on the backline of the defense as a cutter. When it was crunch time in the 4th quarter, Gonzaga put the ball in the hands of Xavier commit, Nyk Lewis to close the game. Lewis’s ability to create advantages off the bounce and get paint touches helped his team generate late game offense to pull off the win. Trey Maddox and Ohio commit Zay Mosley were bright spots for the Pioneers in the loss, providing perimeter scoring and switchability from the wing/forward positions. 

West Oaks brings the force 

West Oaks put together a complete game in a 78-51 win against a shorthanded Westminster squad. Willie Burnett led the way with 25 points, also accomplishing his 1000th career point while participating in the action. Menacing guard Justin Smith was huge on the defensive end and also connected on a pair of threes to help boost Oak Ridge. Forward Marcis Ponder showcased his brute force inside, clearing out space for offensive rebound opportunities, and powering through physicality. Florida commit Alex Lloyd hung a 30 point performance for Westminster, consistently scorching the nets from the deep and getting to the free throw line with urgency. 

Columbus dominates the competition