Florida team ousts Findlay Prep from national basketball tourney

The Findlay Prep basketball team had come back from an unsightly second quarter to surge ahead, and it led Dwyer (Fla.) by six points in the fourth quarter.

And just like that, the tables turned on the Pilots.

Jacoby Brissett scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to rally Dwyer to a 70-61 victory over Findlay in the quarterfinals of the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational on Thursday at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md.

The Pilots (28-4) were unable to win their third straight championship at the tournament.

"I don't have any issue with our effort," Findlay coach Michael Peck said. "They gave a great effort. It's one of those things in life where there are days you come up short. For the guys returning, you've got to remember this."

Findlay trailed 32-24 at halftime after a second quarter in which the Pilots were outscored 20-10 and held without a field goal until the final minute.

But a tomahawk dunk on a three-point play by Nick Johnson keyed an 18-5 third-quarter run the Pilots used to build a 42-37 lead.

A layup by Johnson early in the fourth quarter put Findlay ahead 51-45, but that's when Brissett took over.

Brissett, who has signed to play quarterback at Florida, finished 11-for-16 from the floor and 7-for-8 at the foul line.

Johnson, who has signed with Arizona, led the Pilots with 22 points.

Junior forward Anthony Bennett had 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for Findlay. Sophomore guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who has committed to UNLV, added 10 points for the Pilots.

Findlay senior point guard Myck Kabongo, a Texas signee, scored two points in only 13 minutes after playing in the McDonald's All-American Game on Wednesday night in Chicago.

Victor Adams added 12 points for Dwyer (33-1), which won the Florida Class 5A state title this season.