FORT MYERS, F.L. – Link Academy has won the program’s first national championship with a 73-55 win over AZ Compass at GEICO Nationals. The Branson-based team finished the season 27-1.
Link Academy is NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🏆
The best team in the country is from the Ozarks! Link beats AZ Compass 73-55 in the GEICO Nationals final. Link finishes the season with just one loss.
Congrats on a great year, @LinkHoops
— Jacob Cersosimo (@JacobCersosimo) April 1, 2023
Baylor-bound senior Ja’Kobe Walter led the way for the Lions with 21 points in the championship game while Tyler McKinley added 17 points and 6 rebounds. Link led by 10 at halftime, and extended the lead in the second half before winning by 18.
In the national tournament, Link beat Paul VI and Sunrise Christian Academy on their way to the final on Saturday. In the championship game, junior Elliot Cadeau broke a GEICO Nationals record with 29 assists throughout the three-day tournament.
In Link Academy’s first trip to GEICO Nationals in 2022 the Lions placed second. This season, under new coach Bill Armstrong, the Link Academy lost one game on their way to a national championship.
GEICO Nationals is widely considered the top high school tournament in the country, compiled with the best high school teams.
