Skip to main content
Join Now

City of Palms Classic: Principia (Mo.) upsets top-ranked Columbus (Fla.)

hunterby: Hunter Shelton12/19/25HunterShelton_

The City of Palms Classic kicked off on Thursday as a slew of nationally-ranked programs take the stage in Fort Myers, Fla.

The final game of day one delivered a big upset as Principia (Mo.) defeated Columbus (Fla.), the No. 1 team in the nation per the Rivals Composite Rankings, 74-62.

Ranked as the No. 26 team in the nation and No. 2 team in Missouri, Principia used a 35-point third quarter to separate from the Explorers. The Panthers shot 13-19 from the floor in the quarter and drained four 3-pointers. They led by as many as 16 and kept Columbus at bay down the stretch.

Principia was carried by a monster performance from senior shooting guard Quentin Coleman. The four-star Wake Forest signee poured in a game-high 31 points on 9-20 shooting. He drilled four treys and went a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. He also had four assists, four rebounds, four steals and was named one of the top performers of the day by Rivals’ Joe Tipton.

Behind Coleman, junior guard Gassim Toure added 19 points and seven rebounds, while junior center Sekou Cisse finished with 11 points, five boards and four assists.

Playing just seven players, Columbus was paced by a 23-point outing from five-star small forward Caleb Gaskins. The Miami signee shot 11-22 from the floor and also had seven rebounds, three assists and a steal. Senior combo guard Cello Jackson had 17 points, seven boards and a pair of assists. Three of his four makes were from beyond the arch.

Principia won the rebound battle 38-31. It crashed the glass and racked up 19 offensive boards and turned those into 17 second-chance points. Columbus led for just over 15 minutes of game time but a sloppy start to the second half propelled the Panthers to a big statement win in the Sunshine State.

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 20. Principia will take on the winner of Friday night’s game between Bishop McNamara (Md.) and Wheeler (Ga.), while Columbus will play the loser of St. John Bosco (Calif.) vs. The Villages (Fla.).

How to Follow National High School Boys Basketball

For high school boys basketball fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the high school hops action throughout the season. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the hardwood excitement across the country.