Hargrave Bests Massanutten at Chance Harman Classic

Hargrave Military Academy and Massanutten Military Academy clashed in the Chance Harman Classic on Tuesday, and the game lived up to it’s billing. With both teams ranked in the Top 10 nationally, the rivalry game had an added significance. Despite a big first-half lead for Hargrave, Massanutten was able to claw their way back into the contest before a late spurt put the Tigers ahead for good, with the final score ending at 106-99.

The Tigers were led by Naji Marshall, who put in one of the most dominant performances in the history of Hargrave’s storied program. Marshall poured in 25 points and grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds in the victory. The 6’7″ Xavier commit’s 20/20 performance is the first for any Hargrave player this year, and pushes Marshall’s team-leading rebounding average to a robust 11.4 rebounds per contest. 

Hargrave also got huge performances from Brandon Knapper and Braxton Beverly once again. Knapper scored 23 on the night to go along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists, while Beverly scored a team-high 29 points including a perfect 3-3 from three point range and 6-6 from the free throw line. Jordan McKenzie was another highlight for the Tigers, registering 5 assists, 4 steals and 7 rebounds, including an offensive rebound on a free-throw that sealed the game late in the second half. 

With the win, the Tigers now stand at 27-1, with four of those wins coming against teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Tigers will look to keep their 13 game winning streak alive when they take on Mt. Zion Christian Academy on Friday in Durham, NC.  The tip-off is scheduled for 8:15pm. 

The Hargrave-Chatham Hall Fight Against Cancer Challenge is right around the corner for the Tigers as well, as they play #15 Mt. Zion Prep out of Baltimore, Maryland in the 6th annual event. The game will be preceded by a luncheon on Friday then a pep rally and community walk on game day. Proceeds from the game will be donated to cancer research, and the event promises to be better than ever. In last year’s event, Braxton Beverly broke the school scoring record by pouring in 70 points against Genesis Academy. 

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