2015 Chick-fil-A Invitational Champions — Miller Grove Wolverines

Alterique Gilbert scored 32 points to lead the Class 5A No. 1 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines to an 80-61 Chick-fil-A Invitational championship game victory over the Tucker Tigers on Wednesday night at Tucker.

The win was Miller Grove’s (12-2) second consecutive CFA title, both wins over host Tucker.

Tucker (10-4) rallied from a 14 point deficit (31-17) with 4:09 to play in the second quarter behind six points by junior Kenton Eskridge and five from Amir Butcher to pull within 33-28 on Eskridge’s two free throws at the 1:45 mark.

Tournament MVP Aaron Augustin of Miller Grove drives past Tucker’s Amir Butcher (3). (Photo by Mark Brock)

The Wolverines responded with a 9-0 to end the quarter as Gilbert finished scored four of his 19 points in the half in the run, George Wilson hit a three-pointer and Colin Young added a pair of free throws. The run put Miller Grove up 42-28 at the half.

Gilbert picked up where he left off in the first half as  he scored nine points in the third period including a drive with seven seconds left to put the Wolverines up 62-45 with a quarter to play.

Miller Grove extended its lead despite Tucker’s Eskridge hitting for 10 points in the third period.

Gilbert sandwiched a drive by Joshua Jackmon with a pair of free throws and a drive of his own as the lead expanded to 68-45 with 6:14 to play and both team began to sub.

Gilbert who scored a total of 75 points in the four tournament games also added 22 assists and 16 steals to be named to the All-Tournament team. Aaron Augustin who finished with 12 points and 8 assists in the win was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after compiling 47 points and 42 assists in the four games, including 14 assists in the opening win over Glenn Hills and three double-doubles (points/assists). Raylon Richardson was also named to the All-Tournament after putting together back-to-back games with 11 rebounds, including his 19 points, 11 points and 3 blocks in the semifinal win over Lithonia.

Eskridge was named to the All-Tournament team for Tucker as he followed up his 28 point game against North Clayton in the double overtime semifinal with a 21 point performance against Miller Grove in the final. Tucker’s Xavier Johnson was also named to the All-Tournament team.

Third Place
Lithonia 61, North Clayton 46

Lithonia’s Rodney Chatman goes to the basket against North Clayton. (Photo by Mark Brock)

The No. 3 Class 4A ranked Lithonia Bulldogs pulled away from North Clayton in the fourth quarter for a 61-46 victory to claim third place in the tournament.

Lithonia (10-4) held a 39-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter and was clinging to a 41-39 after North Clayton’s Kindle Vildor hit a three-pointer with 6:21 to play in the game.

All-Tournament selection Tyheem Freeman made a nice pass to Derious Wembley who completed a three-point play with a layup and free throw and the Bulldogs began to pull away.

Jacara Cross and Freeman both hit a pair of free throws to with a basket by Rodney Chatman as the lead ballooned to 51-41 with 2:04 remaining.

Cross and Ziven Alexander each had a dunk in the final 21 seconds to close out the game for the 61-46 win.

Chatman finished with a game-high 18 points to lead Lithonia and Freeman finished with 16. Ahsan Asadullah finished the game with 14 points and 7 rebounds to lead North Clayton (7-5) and was named to the All-Tournament team along with Lithonia’s Freeman.

Fifth Place
Meridian (MS) 61, Osceola (FL) 54

Meridian’s Tyron Brewer flies to the basket against Osceola. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Junior Ladarius Brewer hit for 13 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to seal a 61-54 fifth place game victory for the No. 1 ranked Meridian (MS) Wildcats over the Osceola Kowboys.

Meridian (16-2) was leading 41-37 heading into the fourth quarter when Brewer, an All-Tournament selection, opened the quarter with a three-pointer to jump start the Wildcats to a 20-point fourth quarter.

His brother Tyron Brewer added 13 points for Meridian.

Brady Fernandes hit for 15 points to lead Osceola (10-2) while Tevin Florent added 14 points and All-Tournament selection Jeremy Marte hit for 11 in the game.

Seventh Place
Brainerd (TN) 50, South Miami (FL) 46

Brainerd’s Dejuanta Ross (5) drives against South Miami’s Michael Ferguson. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Brainerd (TN) held South Miami (FL) to just four points in the second quarter to take control of the seventh place game on the way to a 50-46 victory.

Trailing 16-14 at the end of a back and forth first quarter, Brainerd outscored South Miami 12-4 to take a 26-20 lead at the half. All-Tournament selection Dajuanta Ross hit for points in the quarter and Isaiah Long had 5, including a big three-pointer for the lead.

Brainerd led 37-30 heading into the fourth quarter and had to hold for the win as South Miami cut the lead to 2 at one point in the final period.

Ezacuras Dawson had eight of 18 points in the game in the final quarter including two clutch three-pointers to bring South Miami (13-4) within striking distance.

DeShawn Beach finished the game with 11 points, including a big three-pointer to keep South Miami at bay.

Ross had 15 points to lead Brainerd (11-3) while Jessie Walker added 13 to go with Beach’s 11. Miguel Arnold was South Miami’s All-Tournament selection.

All-Tournament Team
MVP – Aaron Augustin, Miller Grove, Sr
Alterique Gilbert, Miller Grove, Sr
Raylon Richardson, Miller Grove, Sr
Xavier Johnson, Tucker, Sr
Kenton Eskridge, Tucker, Jr
Tyheem Freeman, Lithonia, Sr
Ahsan Asadullah, North Clayton, Jr
Jeremy Marte, Osceola (FL), Sr
Ledarius Brewer, Meridian (MS), Jr
Dajuanta Ross, Brainerd (TN), Sr
Miquel Arnold, South Miami (FL), Jr

Round 4 Results
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Seventh Place Bracket Finals
Brainerd, TN (11-3) 50, South Miami FL (13-4) 46

Fifth Place Bracket Semifinals
Meridian, MS (16-2) 61, Osceola, FL (10-2) 54

Third Place Finals
Lithonia (10-4) 61, North Clayton (7-5) 46

Championship Bracket Finals
Miller Grove (12-2) 80, Tucker (10-4) 61