New Heights boys runners-up at Warrior Classic

Second-seeded New Heights Christian Academy falls to top-seeded Greenwood Blue Jays in championship game

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The second-seeded New Heights Christian Academy boys basketball team had to settle for second place after a 58-45 loss to the top-seeded Greenwood Blue Jays in the championship game of the 43rd annual Mercy/Warrior Classic on Saturday at McAuley Catholic High School.

Why it matters

The Warrior Classic is a prestigious high school basketball tournament, and New Heights' runner-up finish shows they are a strong team capable of competing with the top programs in the state.

The details

New Heights opened with an 8-2 lead, but Greenwood rallied to take a 19-18 halftime advantage. The Blue Jays pulled away in the second half, building a double-digit lead that New Heights couldn't overcome. New Heights was led by 10 points each from Ben Schumacher and Adam Stanton.

  • The championship game took place on Saturday at the 43rd annual Mercy/Warrior Classic.

The players

New Heights Christian Academy

The second-seeded boys basketball team that reached the championship game of the Warrior Classic.

Greenwood Blue Jays

The top-seeded boys basketball team that defeated New Heights 58-45 in the championship game.

Ben Schumacher

A player for New Heights who scored 10 points in the championship game.

Adam Stanton

A player for New Heights who scored 10 points in the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“It showed that we can play with a lot of good teams in the state as long as we stick to who we are. I felt like we got away from who we are in the second half. I don't blame my team. I blame me. I've got to prepare them better.”

— Steve Harrel, New Heights coach (yahoo.com)

The takeaway

New Heights' runner-up finish in the prestigious Warrior Classic demonstrates their ability to compete with top teams in the state, though they'll need to stay true to their identity and make adjustments to win close games against elite opponents.