Balboa (FL) vs 1 of 1 (NC)

Recap

1 of 1 Prep Storms Back to Stun Balboa in Beach Ball Classic Thriller

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — For 27 minutes, Balboa (11-8) had everything under control. Then 1 of 1 Prep Academy (15-1) flipped the script. The North Carolina powerhouse erased a 14-point deficit, surging late to secure a dramatic 52-46 victory in the semifinal round of the 2024 Beach Ball Classic Prep Division.

Trailing by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, 1 of 1 Prep leaned on their gritty defense and relentless rebounding to claw their way back. Isaiah Williams delivered a monster performance off the bench, finishing with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks, dominating the paint when it mattered most.

“We stayed patient and trusted our defense,” said 1 of 1 Prep head coach Jermaine Jackson. “Isaiah gave us a spark, and the rest of the guys fed off it. That fourth quarter was pure heart.”

Balboa came out firing, shooting 47.8% in the first half and burying six three-pointers, including three from Vito Albanese, who led

the team with 15 points. Balboa built an 18-9 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 29-16 midway through the second.

But 1 of 1 Prep’s relentless defense took over in the second half, forcing Balboa into five turnovers in the third quarter and holding them to just 11 points. Gevonte Ware, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, sparked the comeback with a putback dunk that energized his team.

By the fourth quarter, the momentum had fully shifted. Balboa’s hot shooting went ice cold, with the team hitting just five second-half field goals,including none from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Williams and Ware dominated the boards, combining for 21 of the team’s 45 rebounds, and 1 of 1 Prep outscored Balboa 18-6 in the final frame.

Balboa had opportunities but struggled to execute under pressure. Jahmarian Forrester and Travis Musonda combined for just seven points on 1-of-11 shooting, and the team managed only two fast-break points all game.

“We lost our rhythm,” said Balboa coach Dominique Jones. “Credit to 1 of 1 Prep—they ramped up their intensity, and we didn’t handle it well down the stretch.”

The win advances 1 of 1 Prep to the championship game, where they’ll look to ride the momentum from this thrilling comeback. Balboa moves to the consolation round, left to ponder what could have been after letting a double-digit lead slip away.

For 1 of 1 Prep, it was a showcase of resilience and belief—a team that refused to back down when the game seemed out of reach. For everyone watching, itwas a reminder that no lead is ever safe at the Beach Ball Classic.

Box Score

(Photos By: Kyd B. Wilde | IG: KBWtheory)