The Dr. Pepper Classic concluded Saturday evening as host team McCallie took on the No. 1 ranked high school team in the nation in Sunrise Christian out of Bel Aire, Kansas. The Blue Tornado battled but just didn’t have enough for the Buffalo as they suffered a 69-36 setback.
Getting ready for @McCalliehoops against Sunrise 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ka3McjOy9O
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
The Buffalo feature a crop of high-level division one players already committed to major basketball programs.
Those players include:
- Dillon Hunter, Baylor
- Cam Cohren, Florida State
- Gradey Dick, Kansas-2020 Gatorade Player of the Year
- Mark Mitchell, Duke
That is a lot of talent and athleticism to keep up with but early on in the game McCallie got the ball to their future DI threat in seven footer David Craig (Committed to Mercer) and were able to keep it close and even had a lead.
Early lead for @McCalliehoops over Sunrise from Kansas featuring kids signed to Duke, FSU, Kansas, and Baylor pic.twitter.com/4PxQE0bfIA
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
At the end of the first quarter the score was still close.
Scoring dried up for McCallie but they’re still in it after one quarter of play pic.twitter.com/Rg35eM46BI
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
However, the length, skill, and talent began taking over for Sunrise as McCallie was having all sorts of difficulty scoring the basketball…
Scoring is TOUGH against the size, speed, and length sunrise has… @McCalliehoops just has to stay at it pic.twitter.com/505KvKR7hr
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
As I mentioned, the length began really bothering the blue Tornado on offense and they were even having trouble getting the ball down low to Craig who finished with a team high 11 points and even when they did he wasn’t automatic.
David Craig trying to work in the post @McCalliehoops pic.twitter.com/daPPGBZaLb
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
In the second quarter McCallie was only able to score two points as the Buffalo were beginning to roam free at the half…
Sunrise getting loose as they now lead
33-10 at the half over McCallie pic.twitter.com/P19rhCWDkA
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
The route continued into the third quarter as Sunrise opened it up to a 40 point lead as they just kept on coming…
Sunrise all over McCallie now… pic.twitter.com/ZC54Vzo7o7
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
The press got to McCallie but by the end of the game the press was off and the Blue Tornado were able to score a couple more points but it wasn’t nearly enough for the best high school basketball team in the country.
It’s all but over at this point. McCallie fought hard. pic.twitter.com/WfBq46LwiQ
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) February 20, 2022
There’s absolutely no shame here for the McCallie boys as they’re having a terrific season but they faced some really good competition this weekend that will hopefully make them a more battle tested team heading into the playoffs this season.
The scoring was pretty even for the Buffalo as Dick netted 11, Mitchell and Hunter poured in 10 each as well.
As mentioned, for the Blue Tornado they were lead by Craig’s 11, Kwasigroch and Robinson each had six points.
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