Boozer brothers close decorated careers by becoming first team who competes for a state title to win in event's 17-year history.
The Boozer brothers accomplish their final quest as the sons of former NBA-all-star Carlos Boozer closed out decorated careers by leading MaxPreps Top 25 No. 1
Columbus (Miami, Fla.) to a 67-49 victory over National Top 10 No. 10
Dynamic Prep (Irving, Texas) in the Chipotle Nationals title game.
The Explorers became the first team that competes for a state title as part of a recognized governing body to win the Chipotle Nationals crown in the 17-year history of the event.
Duke signee
Cameron Boozer was bottled up for most of the night and finished with just 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 5 of 13 from the field. But twin brother
Cayden Boozer was there to pick him up, leading the way with a game-high 27 points on 9 of 14 from the field, 2 of 3 from 3-point range and 7 of 7 from the free throw line.
Cayden Boozer caps off impressive week at Chipotle Nationals with dominant performance. (Photo: Julie L. Brown)
The national championship is the final achievement for a pair that have won three consecutive Nike EYBL Peach Jam championships, captured four straight state titles in Florida's highest classification and earned a pair of gold medals with the USA Junior National Team.
The Explorers used a strong second-half effort to come away with the victory, outscoring Dynamic Prep 39-22 over the final 16 minutes of the contest.
Columbus (30-3) opened up a 44-34 advantage with just over one minute
remaining the third quarter after going on a 10-0 spurt. Five-star junior
Caleb Gaskins
converted a pair of free throws, junior guard
Cello Jackson made a contested
layup and Cayden Boozer followed that with a tough and-one layup. Jackson added a 3-pointer
from the right corner after Cameron Boozer drew a double team on the
baseline.
The Explorers continued their second
half onslaught in the fourth quarter as they went on an 11-1 run to stretch their advantage to 19 points after
back-to-back Cameron Boozer baskets were followed by another layup for
Jackson.
No. 3-ranked Duke signee Cameron Boozer tallied 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the winning effort. (Photo: Julie L. Brown)
A back-and-forth first quarter saw Dynamic Prep jump ahead 15-13 behind six points apiece from Oral Roberts pledge
Leroy Kelly IV and four-star SMU signee
Jaden Toombs.
The Boozer brothers kept the Explorers close in the opening quarter by combining for 11 of the first 13 points.
Although Columbus extended their lead to 24-18 mid-way through the second quarter after an 11-3 run to begin the period, Dynamic Prep was able to claw its way back to take a one-point lead with just over one minute remaining in the half. A tip-in from four-star junior
Jaxon Richardson gave the Explorers a 28-27 edge at the intermission.
The Explorers held Dynamic Prep (34-5) to 19 of 53 (35.8 percent) from the field and 8 of 25 (32.0 percent) from 3-point range. The third-year program from the Lone Star State coached by former NBA all-star Jermaine O'Neal saw Sam Houston State pledge
Jacobe Coleman score a team-high 15 points, while Toombs chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
Columbus had five players score eight or more points in the balanced victory as Jackson chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds, Richardson piled up nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists and Gaskins added eight points, five rebounds and three assists along with the contribution from the Boozers.
Columbus becomes first team who competes for a state championship to win Chipotle Nationals title. (Photo: Julie L. Brown)
