Culver IN. The Annual CMA Winter Classic tipped off at 10:00am Saturday as the Eagles of Culver Academies took on the Cavaliers of Fort Wayne Canterbury. The Eagles were with their Head Coach Mark Galloway in his first game back from COVID as the Eagles played the first of their two games of the day.
           
It was a slow start for both teams as they battled for their first points of the game. Canterbury started the scoring with a bucket in the paint before junior Cooper Farrall responded with a two of his own. Both teams again traded two pointers, this time featuring senior Jokubas Skurdenis. Culver managed to pull away at the end of the quarter with a two from junior Fola Fayemi and a three from junior Thomas Collins. A defensive struggle for both teams made that the end of scoring for the quarter, with Culver in the lead 9-4.
           
Scoring ramped up from there. Both teams started off hot as the Cavaliers made two shots in the paint. Meanwhile Culver got seven points on their first three shots thanks to a pair of makes from senior Daley Stein and another three from Collins. Farrall added a pair of free throws to double Culver's lead before Canterbury responded with a trip to the line themselves. Fayemi scored in the lane to give Culver what would be their largest lead of the game at ten, however Canterbury quickly responded with a two of their own. A cold streak by both teams was ended by a three from Canterbury which would start a 6-2 run to end the half, Culver's points were thanks to Farrall fighting in the lane. The first-half ended with Culver only four points ahead with a score of 22-18.
           
The second-half started quickly as both teams started to feel themselves offensively. Senior Amir Gates got a tough layup to start the half and Canterbury scored a two and then a three off of an Eagle turnover. Farrall made a pair of free throws, but Canterbury quickly responded with back-to-back makes to give them their first lead since the beginning of the first quarter. Collins and Farrall didn't let that last long though as they both got a three-point play, each in their own way. Collins quickly hit a three then Farrall got into the lane and converted and and-one attempt off of a great pass from Fayemi. Collins hit another two to get the lead to seven. Canterbury finished the quarter on a 7-3 run, only being slowed down by yet another Collins three, which ended the quarter 34-37.
           
Culver was able to seal the game with their best offensive quarter in the fourth. Farrall and Collins had three two-point baskets to counter Canterbury's two to keep the lead. Farrall went on to score the Eagles next nine points, keeping the Cavaliers at bay with some help from the defense. Canterbury just couldn't find the offense to complete a comeback and the Eagles hit all their free throws, two from Stein, two from Farrall, and two from Skurdenis, in foul time to seal a win against the Cavs 58-49.
           
Culver will face the winner of Lake Forest Academy and Gary Lighthouse Charter at 6:00 in the Championship game. The game will start after the 4:00 consolation game between Fort Wayne Canterbury and the loser of the 12:00 game.