No. 5 Daviess Co. falls to SPIRE International (OH) 73-66 to tip off MADE Hoops Main Event in Louisville

MADE Hoops, the “grassroots leader in cutting edge youth basketball events and experiences,” is hosting its 2025 Main Event at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, KY. It features eight games over the weekend with high school basketball teams from all over the country, and even Canada!

SPIRE International Academy (14-0) outlasted No. 5 Daviess County (3-2) 73-66 for the event’s opening matchup.

Here is the event’s full schedule:

Saturday, Dec. 13

• SPIRE Academy International (OH) vs. Daviess Co. (KY) at 4:30 p.m.
• Christ School (NC) vs. Edge School (Canada) at 6 p.m.
• SPIRE Academy (OH) vs. No. 1 St. Xavier (KY) at 7:30 p.m.
• Iowa United (IA) vs. Tennessee Collegiate Academy (TN) at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 14

• Edge School vs. SPIRE International Academy (OH) at noon.
• Iowa United vs. La Lumiere (IN) at 1:30 p.m.
• SPIRE Academy vs. Christ School at 3 p.m.
• Tennessee Collegiate Academy vs. No. 1 St. Xavier at 4:30 p.m.

Besides the two Kentucky schools, La Lumiere — an Indiana prep school — is a team for Kentuckians to keep an eye on, as they boast senior Gabe Weis (WKU) and junior Ferlandes Wright (Louisville), both Kentucky natives committed to in-state schools.

Daviess Co. came into this game with a 3-1 record, with their only loss against Albuquerque Prep (NM) at The Grind Session, a winter circuit in Owensboro. The Panthers are led by three scorers with over 16 points per game: Chattanooga commit Johnathon Moss (24.8), Michael Acton (16.5), and DeAaron Watkins (16.2). Watkins also averages a double-double, with 14.8 rebounds a game.

SPIRE International entered with a 13-0 record, having started their season over a month earlier than KHSAA’s season start on Dec. 1.

Game Recap

Moss led the way for Daviess Co. with 16 points and four threes in the first half, as the Panthers had a 37-36 lead in the break. Three-pointers and steals were their keys to staying competitive, as they had eight of each by halftime.

For SPIRE, Cohen Hyatt and Jeffrey Reynolds lead the way with a combined 28 points at the break, and three blocks on the defensive end from Harmon Hailemichael.

The game stayed a tight affair until midway through the fourth quarter, when SPIRE International went on an 8-0 run to lead 63-56. The Panthers powered back with a couple of three-pointers and closed the deficit within a possession, 67-64, with a minute to go.

However, that would be the closest Daviess Co. would get, as SPIRE nailed the dagger with 10 seconds to go on a Hyatt alley-oop to Reynolds to extend their lead to 71-66. Those two combined for 56 points on 66.7% from the field.

“We really started to defend and rebound and focus,” said SPIRE coach Brendan Boyle on his team’s 8-0 run. “I thought they [Daviess Co.] out-toughed us in the first half 100 percent, but the second half belonged to us.”

For Daviess Co., Moss finished with 28 points on 55% shooting and five three-pointers. Watkins was limited to season-lows in points (10) and rebounds (5).

The Panthers move on to 3-2 on the year, and SPIRE improves to 14-0.

You can get tickets for the rest of the event here.