On the opening day of the Planet Athlete North South Classic at Trinity Washington University in Washington D.C on Friday, four NPSAA teams found themselves in action.

In a tournament featuring some of the top programs from across North America, the Canadian representation was high even in the American schools with nearly 60% of the players participating in the showcase event hailing from the Great White North.

With a strong Canuck presence throughout the weekend the US capitol was put on notice of the quality of basketball coming from north of the border.

Here’s a look at how the league fared on Day 1.

Game 1 PHASE 1 Prep vs. New Hope Baptist Celtics

After an overnight bus ride players were given no chance to rest or relax before the opening game of the tournament, heading straight to the gym following their lengthy journey — the lack of recovery showed.

In a one sided affair, the Celtics handled PHASE 1 in a convincing 86-72 victory.

It was evident in the early going the legs just weren’t there for the team from Toronto, falling behind 16-4 just five minutes into the game, as New Hope used an effective full court press to disrupt inbounds, create turnovers and get easy buckets.

Though a 9-3 brought PHASE 1 within striking distance, trailing by just six, the deficit ballooned to 23 before the half as turnovers and poor defensive rotations buried PHASE 1.

Making life even more difficult was a handful of quick foul calls against D’Adrian Allen that saw the standout forward relegated to the bench for most of the game.

The momentum the Celtics gained at the end of the first half appeared to carry over into the second, as the lead was pushed to as much as 35 but like in fashion accustomed to PHASE 1 the large margin seemed to spark some life in the struggling squad.

Managing to bring the spread to less than 20 with just over five minutes to play it looked like a late push could possibly make the game interesting but mounting a comeback off such proportions seemed to drain all energy and hopes of any miracles occurring in the tournament opener.

Game 2 REDA National vs. New Hope Baptist Celtics

In a three-point shooting clinic, REDA managed to squeak by the pesky Celtics club for a narrow 89-82 victory.

The two teams combined to hit 24 shots from beyond the arc with REDA slightly edging the Maryland squad, connecting on 14 shots from deep.

It wasn’t until midway through the second half the high powered REDA would take its first lead of the game, as Troy Grant knocked down one of the many outside jump shots. Over the final 10 minutes of the game both sides traded baskets, with five lead changes and four ties occurring in that span. In the end it was Richard Audu who iced the game with a dagger three-pointer to put REDA up six with 45 seconds to play.

In the early going, however, the story was the effective full court press New Hope had executed in its opening matchup once again and a large disparity in foul calls.

Jumping out to a 6-0 lead after just two minutes it looked like a repeat of the tournament opener with the same press causing fits for the opposition. Adding to the issue was a seven-to-zero difference in fouls against REDA that quickly put the Celtics on the free throw line early in the first half.

Weathering the storm the No.1 ranked team in Canada managed to regroup and fight through the adversity, slowly chipping away at the lead and eventually tying the game just after the midway mark of the first half.

Whatever momentum REDA seemed to gain was quickly extinguished when New Hope responded with an 8-0 to head into halftime with a 46-41 advantage.

Game 3 ROCK Academy vs. Urban Honors Academy

Behind an athletic aerial assault ROCK Academy were victorious over Urban Honors, 84-68.

In a contest that seemed to be tightly contested for the first 30 minutes the final 10 minute stretch saw ROCK active on the defensive end, creating turnovers and quickly converting those opportunities into transition baskets.

It was that very formula that the Durham based squad had implemented throughout the game and effectively executed as the slashing ability of Jamal Reynolds and Jordan Jelen-Whyte were too much for the New York City club to keep up with.

Though the end result wouldn’t suggest it, the game was within striking distance as the physicality on both ends of the floor was evident from the early going, making points in the paint coming at a hard price.

Despite the aggressive nature of the first half, ROCK was able to pull away by nine heading into halftime up 38-29.

The lead was never squandered.

Though Urban Honors would manage to bring the game to within two point’s midway through the second half by attacking the questionable interior defence, a quick 6-0 run would push the lead back to eight and the ROCK coasted to victory the rest of the way.

Game 4 PHASE 1 High School vs. Princeton Day Academy

A second half collapse allowed Princeton Day to walk away with a W, defeating PHASE 1 58-53.

Appearing to be in complete control heading into the half, ahead 33-22 at the break, PHASE 1 came out for the second half looking nothing like the team that had easily gotten ahead after the first 20 minutes.

An 8-0 run from Princeton Day in the first seven minutes of the second stanza immediately brought them back into the game and suddenly the comfortable halftime lead disappeared. It wouldn’t be until the 4:55 mark that the game would finally be deadlocked at 45 for the first time since early in the game.

After five lead changes and two ties over the final four minutes it was the length and execution of Princeton Day that proved to be effective, despite a late minute desperation comeback led by William Maylor’s five points in the final minute to make it a one possession game just before Princeton put it out of reach at the free throw line.

The first 10 minutes of the game were characterized by turnovers and missed layups ways, creating a sloppy feel to the game. It seemed the gritty the game got the more it favoured the local club. Yet it was PHASE 1’s intensity that picked up near the end of the first half with guards penetrating the defence and getting good looks for themselves and teammates.