The top ranked small school in the Buffalo News poll, I-Prep at Grover, defeated OTC Middle College at the Flickinger Center, 79-72.  For the Presidents, it was the third win in as many games against other ranked small schools (St. Mary's, Tapestry, OTC).  It also marked the first time the defending Class C state champion Kats lost in Yale Cup action since 2009.

Grover held the lead for nearly the entire game, except for when a basket from Davon Alexander put the Kats in front, 13-12.  Chris Holland scored 12 of his game-high 25 points in the opening quarter, and lead a 7-0 run to close the quarter, giving his squad a 19-13 lead.

The Kats were able to pull within a point on four different occasions in the second quarter, but each time the closed the gap, Grover would answer the call.  The second quarter was the most competitive of the game and featured a fast-paced tempo on the big floor at ECC.  Middle College trailed 36-33 at the break after Khalid Brown tipped the ball in at the buzzer for OTC. 

Kenny Pringle scored eight of his 21 points in the third quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Presidents opened up their lead to double-digits, 58-56 after three quarters. 

Early in the fourth, a pair a baskets from Holland put the Presidents in front, 62-48, and it looked like the game was about to get away from Middle College.  Midway through the quarter, Kadeem Hillman ran down a slightly overthrown pass, gained control of it in the lane, and proceeded to throw down a vicious two-handed slam that seemed to be an exclamation point on an I-Prep at Grover win.  However, the Kats clawed their way right back into the game, scoring the next eight points to cut the lead to 73-70.  But down the stretch, Grover hit its free throws and OTC Middle College was never able to get any closer.

It was an entertaining game that showed I-Prep at Grover has been rightfully considered the top small school in WNY, and that OTC Middle College is not far behind.  Hillman continues to blossom each time he takes the court and has become one of the top big men in WNY by improving every aspect of his game – significantly.  Hillman finished with 24 points, many of which came on hanging jumpers around the basket, both off the glass and straight through the hoop with a soft touch.   The combination of Hillman, Holland, and Pringle make I-Prep at Grover difficult for any small school to matchup with.

Brown lead the Kats with 21 points, Alexander scored 19 points, and Cordell Torres finished with 16 points. 

-centercourt