Time for a Boys HS Nationals Rundown!

We have a bunch of video interviews embedded here as we run down Tier II. 

OK, here we go:

Champion: SOC Raptors
Most Points Scores: Fort Hunt, 102
Fewest Points Allowed: SOC Raptors, 31
Games Decided by a Try or Less: 3

Once again it's important to note that this bracket remains enormously challenging, and winning a game here is very difficult. The bracket included three state champions and three state finalists. 

Fort Hunt lost two of those close games, fielding a fairly young team the Warriors learned a lot about key decision-making moments in close games. Runners-up New Trier played excellent defense and only gave up two tries, total, in their first two games. 

Raptor Rugby can say the same thing ... interestingly their tries-allowed record was affected by the same team—SOC. Listen to what the Raptor players have to say about what competitive tournaments do for their preparation.  

St. Edward entered the event seeded #8 in Tier II, had to drive home the night of Thusday and also Friday for graduation events, and still managed to go 2-1. Their 5th-place final vs Eastside was as dramatic and thrilling a game as you could want to watch.

Coming into Tier II, SOC Raptors were #3 in Southern California and knew they wouldn't get to the HS Club Tier 1 with that placement—there were already two SoCal teams up there. So they targeted a Tier II title that had slipped through their fingers before. The key this time? Maybe it was relaxing and just worrying about playing how they like to play, not worrying about winning the cup.

Certainly the Raptors played very fast, getting the ball out of the breakdown with alacrity and communicating well. But perhaps the most notable thing was their defense. As pointed out above, they allowed the fewest points in this bracket. That pride in their defense was hugely important.