Chipotle Nationals opening round: live updates, scores from No. 9 Wasatch Academy vs. No. 10 Link Academy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
FISHERS, Indiana, April 1 — The field is set, and the Chipotle Nationals tournament will finally get under way Wednesday evening at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana.
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The opening game is set to tip at 6 p.m. EST when The Sporting News preseason No. 1 Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions (25-4) take on the Wasatch Academy [Mt. Pleasant, UT] Tigers (24-6). Link is currently ranked No. 10 and also enters the nation’s premier high school boys basketball tournament as the #10 seed.
Wasatch, meanwhile, is No. 9 in the rankings, but they are the #7 seed heading into the opening-round contest against the Lions.
HOW TO WATCH: A complete guide to all of the action at The Chipotle Nationals
The two teams played all the way back on November 24 with Link Academy escaping with a 70-66 win. It was part of 15-0 run to start the season for the Lions who are no longer in the running for The Sporting News High School Boys Basketball national championship after losing four games down the stretch.
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Wasatch is also eliminated from national title consideration, but the two teams certainly have an opportunity this week in Indiana to play a role in determining the national champion if they can make a deep run.
STREAM:Watch Link Academy vs. Wasatch Academy on the YouTube League Ready channel
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Refresh for updates
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THIRD QUARTER
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Just under three to play, Wasatch has got it back down to 13 at 44-31.
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Just under the five-minute mark, and Wasatch is in trouble, trailing 42-23.
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Timeout at the 5:51 mark, and Link has its biggest lead at 38-23.
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35-23, Link, at the six-minute mark.
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6:21 to play, it’s 34-23 as Wasatch breaks the second-half ice.
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Inside seven minutes, and Link makes it 34-21 on a basket-plus-the-foul situation. They miss the free thrown, but they are building a commanding lead.
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Link quickly ups their lead to 11 at 32-21.
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The third quarter is under way!
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END OF SECOND QUARTER — Link Academy 30, Wasatch Academy 21
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The story so far is the long ball, and Link hit seven from long-distance. That’s more than they average per game, so Wasatch will have to come up with some answers at the break.
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Inside a minute, Link has its biggest lead at 30-21.
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Timeout at the 1:21 mark as Link drains another long ball, to go back up by seven points at 28-21. It’s been close all the way, but it’s definitely felt like Wasatch chasing Link so far with the Lions setting the pace from the three-point line.
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Just over two to play, it’s back to 25-21, Link.
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Under three to play before halftime, it’s 23-21, Link.
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Just inside four minutes, it’s 21-all in Fishers.
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Near the five-minute mark, Wasatch bangs home another three to make it 18-all, but it’s raining threes on both ends and Link answers yet again to make it 21-18 at the 4:47 mark headed into a timeout.
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After a free throw made it 15-12 in favor of Link, Wasatch canned a triple of its own to even it at 15-all. But the pace is quickening around the six-minute mark, and Link hits its fifth three pointer of the game to go back up 18-15.
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Wasatch took its first lead on a three-pointer to make it 12-9, but Link answers with their fourth triple of the game to regain the lead at 14-12.
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The second quarter is under way!
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END OF FIRST QUARTER — Link Academy 11, Wasatch Academy 9
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The opening quarter is in the books, and it’s been a defensive battle so far. It feels like two teams still feeling each other out.
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Wasatch trimmed it to 9-7 inside two minute, but a Link answer makes it 11-7.
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Under the three-minute mark, it’s 9-5, Link.
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At the 4:10 mark, Link knocks down another trey, and it’s 9-2, Lions.
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Inside five minutes, that early flurry of activity is all we’ve had. It’s still 6-2, Link Academy.
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Link drills a couple of three-pointers to get the scoring started, and Wasatch comes up empty on its first possession before answering with a basket. Link out to the early 6-2 lead.
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They are under way in Indiana!
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Coming soon! Game time is set for 6 p.m. EST local!
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How can I watch Link Academy vs. Wasatch Academy?
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Date: 6 p.m. EST local, Wednesday, April 1
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