The Apprentice School Goes Back-to-Back!

BUFFALO, N.Y. (March 14, 2025) … A dominating 33-8 first half for The Apprentice School Builders helped propel them to a 64-43 win over Villa Maria on Friday night to capture their second straight USCAA Men’s Division I Championship.

The eight points allowed in the first half was the lowest in a USCAA Men’s Division I Championship game since 2014 when Washington Adventist allowed 17 to Tennessee Temple. The 21 point margin was the second largest since 2008 in a title game, while the victory was the fourth men’s championship for Apprentice School and their second repeat performance after winning in 2001 and 2002.

Villa Maria (22-8) scored the first points of the game on a Jeremiah Clarke layup 41 seconds into the game, but Apprentice School (19-8) then ripped off the next 14 points as a Chris Hinmon layup gave the Builders a 14-2 lead at the 10:52 mark.

Bryan Adams had a layup for Villa Maria to break that run, though the Builders answered with the next 10 points to push the advantage to 24-4 as Wayne Hedgepeth was on the receiving end of a Donovan Means assist to lead with 6:52 left.

The Vikings slowed that run with a Santi Mareno layup for a 24-6 deficit, but as with their first two buckets Apprentice responded with a burst scoring the next seven points to lead 31-6 with 92 seconds left in the half on a Chris Goode jumper.

In the second half, Villa Maria scored the first eight points to trail 33-16 on a Bryan Adams jumper at the 17:30 mark, but that was as close as they could get as Apprentice School went on a 13-3 blitz to take a 46-19 lead on a Hedgepeth layup with 10:35 remaining.

Hinmon scored 16 points to lead the Builders off the bench, while Hedgepeth and Adrion Wall added 14 apiece and Donovan Means had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Nolan Shepherd and Juston Johnson had 10 points each for Villa Maria.

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

Bryant & Stratton Buffalo – Nashon Sylvester

Mid-Atlantic Christian – Keith Shakes, Jr.

Villa Maria – Bryan Adams

Apprentice School – Donovan Means, Chris Hinmon

Tournament MVP – Apprentice School, Adrion Wall