Alterique Gilbert’s drive to the basket in the closing seconds of overtime propelled the Miller Grove Wolverines to a 60-58 win over the Tucker Tigers in the championship game of the Chick-Fil-A Basketball Classic at Tucker during the holiday break.

Tucker which led most of the game except briefly in the second quarter, a short lived 26-25 Miller Grove lead, found itself trailing 55-52 following a Gilbert three-pointer and another Tucker by Lamont West.

Sophomore Kenton Eskridge showed no fear as he nailed a three of his own to knot the game at 55-55 to send the game into the overtime.

Raylon Richardson gave the Wolverines a 57-55 lead, but Bryce Brown answered for Tucker with a three-pointer to give the Tigers the lead at 58-57.

West would tie the game at 58-58 with 1:23 to play as he hit one of two free throws. Gilbert, the tournament MVP, would take the ball as the clock wound down and drive to the basket with one his patented twirling layups to give the Wolverines the lead.

Tucker (14-1) was rushing down the court with six seconds to play when a charging call gave Miller Grove (12-3) the ball back and the opportunity to run out the clock for the win.

Gilbert finished the game with 18 points while All-Tournament player Lamont West had 21 and Raylon Richardson added 12 for the Wolverines. Tucker got 18 from All-Tournament player Bryce Brown, 17 from Ayinde Russell and 13 from Kenton Eskridge.

Third Place
Jenkins 59, Columbia 52
Jenkins-Savannah hit 9 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off a furious Columbia rally in a 59-52 win for the third place trophy of the Chick-Fil-A Basketball Classic.

Jenkins (8-2) was up 42-33 heading into the fourth quarter when Rodriguez Dennis took control for the Eagles (11-4). Dennis scored 10 points including a big three-pointer in the quarter putting the pressure on Jenkins to hit free throws.

Eric Johnson was 5-5 at the line and JaMori Bryant was 3-4 to help Jenkins hold off the charge by the Eagles and Dennis.

Johnson and Trevion Lamar finished with 15 points each for Jenkins and Bryant added 13. All-Tournament player Micaiah Henry and Dennis both finished with 16 points for the Eagles.

Fifth Place
Meridian (MS) 77, Jackson-Olin (AL) 51
Brandon Miller hit for 25 points, including a trio of threes, to lead the Meridian Wildcats (15-3) to a 77-51 victory over Jackson-Olin (9-7).

Joel Baskin and Ladarius Brewer both dropped in 19 points for Meridian which pulled away in the second half.  Bridges had 20 points to lead Jackson-Olin.

Sixth Place
Gainesville (FL) 58, Glenn Hills (GA) 46
Ike Smith hit for 19 points to lead the Gainesville Hurricanes (13-2) to a 58-46 win over Glenn Hills (7-4) in the sixth place trophy game.

Smith hit for 15 in the first half to put Gainesville up 32-27 at the half. The Hurricanes limited Glenn Hills to just five points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

Neeko Gainey joined smith in double figures with 10 points in the game. Glenn Hills got 14 from Aaron Williamson and 13 from Delvin Berry.