Culver Academies and South Bend Riley met in the championship game of Culver’s Winter Classic. Most were interested in the individual match-up between Trey Galloway and Blake Wesley. It did not disappoint. (Pictured: Blake Wesley via NCAA Photos)

Galloway opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the wing. A minute later, Wesley scored his first bucket. Those two did not slow down the rest of the way. In fact, Wesley scored 10 of Riley’s 12 first quarter points to put them ahead after one period.

Culver Academies didn’t stay behind for long. Indiana State signee Nick Hittle started the second quarter with a three-point play. Galloway scored the next six points of the game to give CMA the 18-14 advantage. Deontae Craig added a free throw to put the Eagles up 19-16 at halftime.

After being held to two points in the second quarter, Wesley got back on track in the third. He scored 11 points in the stanza to keep Riley in the game. He was the only Riley player to score in the period. There was a stretch where Wesley scored 27 straight points for Riley.

With Culver Academies up one in the fourth, Hittle found Desi Martello for a three-pointer. On the next possession, Hittle connected with Jokunas Skurdenis for another three. The following Culver possession saw Craig score in the lane. Next trip, Hittle decided it was his turn to knock down a three. To cap things off, Craig hit Galloway on a backdoor cut for a monster dunk. That was put an exclamation point on a 13-3 CMA run.

It was the game-deciding run. Culver Academies expanded its lead to 17 points late in the fourth quarter. It was an impressive all-around performance as Culver won 54-40.

Trey Galloway led CMA with 22 points and four rebounds. He was 9-14 from the floor. Deontae Craig had a strong game with 14 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Nick Hittle finished with 12 points and five rebounds.

Blake Wesley scored 34 of Riley 40 points. He was 13-21 from the field including 5-6 from three-point range. He also had six rebounds. It was the best I’ve ever seen him shoot.