MODE Prep wraps up inaugural season

MODE Prep of Liberty Lake recently wrapped up its first season on the national prep school basketball circuit.

Competing at the GrindSession National Tournament in Bowling Green, Ky, MODE lost   

in the first round to Legacy SSS from Spring, Texas, 81-80 in the single-elimination tournament.   

MODE led most of the way, including an 11-point lead after three quarters, before Legacy got hot.  

After going 3 for 20 on 3-pointers through 3 quarters, Legacy hit 6 of 9 from downtown in the fourth quarter. That, coupled with full-court pressure, forced MODE into six fourth-quarter turnovers. 

Zuby Toms, who led MODE with 24 points, converted a four-point play, getting fouled on a 3-pointer and hitting the free throw with 25 seconds to go, bringing MODE within one point.

MODE got the ball back down 81-80 with 1.7 seconds, but couldn't convert the full-court game winner.  

Legacy SSS, which entered the tournament as the eighth seed, went on to win the tournament.  

"We drew a tough team that was peaking at the right time," said MODE Prep head coach Jon Adams, the former Coeur d'Alene High boys basketball coach. "Hats off to Legacy. Their late full-court pressure and timely shooting down the stretch were the difference."

Alassane Doucoure finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds for MODE.  Rayan Elghaly chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds, and Matt Cummins added 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.  

MODE finished with a 16-17 record.  

The team included players from around the country an internationally, as well as two local players — sophomores Collin Simon and Hudson Reid from Coeur d'Alene. 

"It hurts to finish your season with such a heartbreaking loss," Adams said. "But I'm extremely proud of what we've accomplished in just our first year. We've definitely put MODE Prep on the map of the national prep basketball world."