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Statement Win for Nathan Hale Over Oak Hill Academy
By Nic Beckman

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The #8 team in the country travelled to Springfield, Massachusetts on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday to play in the Spalding Hoophall Classic against perennial high school powerhouse Oak Hill Academy out of Virginia, ranked #7 this year. Michael Porter Jr after sitting out their game on Friday in their metro league game against Bishop Blanchet, that the Raiders won 83-48, came out ready to play! The undefeated Raiders played with confidence and energy and didn’t let the loaded Oak Hill Academy squad led by McDonald’s All American Billy Preston intimidate them. Senior Michael Porter Jr and his junior brother Jontay Porter got the first 8 points for Hale, 4 apiece to get an early lead over Oak Hill. But the very talented Oak Hill team rallied to get up by 6 at 14-8 halfway though the first. The back an forth action had Oak Hill up by two after one 19-17.

The transition game sparked Brandon Roy’s Raiders in the second period after Oak Hill opened on an 8-4 run extending their lead to 6 at 27-21. The Porter brothers hit back to back threes and Sophomore PJ Fuller with a right hand tomahawk jam on a Keegan Crosby lob in transition, then a pull up three on the next trip cut the lead to 2 at 34-32 with just over three minutes in the half. Tied at 34 with 2:58 left, the Raiders closed the half on an 9-4 run of their own and went into the locker room up five, 43-38. Michael Porter Jr tallied 20 first half points on 8-14 field goal attempts.

The second half was much of the same great basketball with contributions from Jontay Porter, PJ Fuller and Fred Brown III, tied at 51 with just under 4 minutes played in the third, Michael Porter Jr hit his third 3 (3-6 3’s) and a goal tend by Oak Hill had the Raiders back up by 5. As the clock ran out in the 3rd, PJ Fuller with a launch from the free throw line in back court, hit nothing but net and the 80 foot bomb put Nathan Hale up 63-55 heading into the final period. Fred Brown III deep three from the right corner gave Nathan Hale their largest lead of the game in the fourth quarter at 72-62.

The very talented Oak Hill team would battle back, getting the game within a single possession, behind the leadership of Lindell Wigginton who would finish with 22. Three other players getting double digit performances Billy Preston with 17, Matt Coleman and Ty-shon Alexander each with 15. But that wasn’t enough to overcome the Raiders. Michael Porter Jr. making a statement for the #1 player in the nation overall, finished with 36 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Sophomore PJ Fuller finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal and Junior Jontay Porter got 13 points to go with 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and a steal. Nathan Hale with a fantastic effort from start to finish would hold on to win as a last second desperation three for the tie hit the front of the rim as the buzzer sounded. The Raiders remain undefeated with the 80-77 win over Oak Hill Academy on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 80, Oak Hill Academy (VA) 77.

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 36 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
P.J. Fuller- 17 points, 4 rebounds
Jontay Porter- 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks