Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

High School Basketball:

Findlay Prep’s Trier overcomes lack of sleep, leads Pilots to quarterfinal win in national event

High School Basketball Teams

Christopher DeVargas

Findlay Prep: Allonzo Trier, Horace Spencer, Justin Jackson

It appeared Findlay Prep was sleepwalking through the Dick’s High School Nationals quarterfinals today against Florida state champion Blanche Ely in Queens, NY.

The basketball game, after all, started at 9 a.m. Las Vegas time.

But despite more than 20 turnovers and making just 14 of 27 free throws, Henderson-based Findlay Prep pulled away late in a back-and-forth game, winning 63-50 to advance to Friday’s semifinals.

Findlay Prep’s Allonzo Trier drained a 3-pointer with about five minutes left to give the Pilots the lead for good and start a decisive 7-0 scoring run. The game included 11 scoring changes until Arizona commit Trier finally took over.

Trier, like his teammates, had every right to be tired early.

He led the West with 17 points at the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago Wednesday night, leaving the Windy City early today and arriving in the New York area less than two hours before tipoff against Blanche Ely.

“I’m tired. My eyes are burning. But those aren’t excuses,” he told ESPN at halftime.

Then, in the second half, Trier hurt his ribs while violently falling to the floo. He was removed from the game to see the trainer.

“I did the best I can to be productive and help my team get a win,” Trier told ESPN.

But just seconds after returning in the fourth quarter, Trier drained the key 3-pointer to help Findlay Prep fight off a pesky Blanche Ely team.

Blanche Ely stayed in the game through the first half by making five of seven of its 3-pointers. However, it made just one of 15 on 3-pointers to finish the game, and Findlay Prep dominated on the inside with its much taller players. Findlay Prep outrebounded the Florida school by more than 20 and had 13 blocks, unofficially.

Justin Jackson, a UNLV commit, and Trier each scored 18 points to lead Findlay Prep. Auburn signee Horace Spencer had nine points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots.

Findlay advances to the semifinals at noon Friday against the winner of Montverde Academy of Florida and Greensboro Day. Findlay Prep has won the national tournament three times in seven appearances, but Montverde has captured the past two titles.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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