The YMCA fifth and sixth grade championship wasn’t won easily Wednesday at the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County, but in the end, the Gray team held off the Black team 42-39 to complete an undefeated season.

“I’m proud of my guys,” said Gray team head coach Jerry Armstead. “They fought hard and they hung in there when times were rough. They didn’t let up.”

The Gray team’s Tristan Marshall and the Black team’s Derrick Edwards Jr. traded buckets all night. Both made their presence known early in the game.

Marshall hit the only 3-pointer of the night to give his team a 3-2 lead. Edwards scored the only points of the first quarter for his team with eight, but a three-point play by Osagie Aghedo gave the Gray team a 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Marshall scored on a three-point play to give his team a 13-8 lead early in the second quarter. Edwards responded with a floater and two layups to bring his team within one point of the lead, trailing 15-14 with 2:36 left in the half.

Cameron Griffin connected on a layup to put the Black team in front 18-17 with 1:08 remaining in the second quarter.

Frederico Tyre Jr. swung the momentum back in the Gray team’s direction after making two layups. Edwards added a layup with two seconds left in the half, and the Gray team led 21-20 at halftime.

Tyler Morgan opened the second half with a layup to push the Gray lead to 23-20. After Edwards tied the game 24-24, Marshall scored twice to give his team a 28-25 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Marshall scored two more times to open the fourth quarter, extending the Gray lead to 32-25. After Morgan and Marshall each added another layup, the Gray team was ahead 37-27 with 4:46 to play.

The Black team quickly came back, as Edwards narrowed the Gray lead to 37-34 with 3:24 remaining.

Aghedo hit two free throws to make it 39-34, but Edwards continued to make shots to keep his team in the game. With 35 seconds remaining, Edwards rebounded his own missed free throw and made the next shot to pull his team within two points of the tying the game at 41-39.

“He’s been instrumental to the team all season,” said Black team head coach Javaris Brewer of Edwards. “We needed him. He’s a real big player. He’s going to be great.”

Aghedo made another free throw with time running out to give the Gray team a three-point lead that would stick until the buzzer sounded.

“We wanted to go out undefeated and they pulled it off so I’m proud of them,” Armstead said.

 

Red 33, Gray 15 (3-4)

The Red team used a big second half to escape the Gray team to win the YMCA third and fourth grade championship 33-15 Wednesday at the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County. Titus Lanier made a shot in the fourth quarter to give his team a 30-14 lead and help seal the victory for the Red team.

The score was still within reach for the Gray team at halftime, as Red only led 16-7.

Tristen Wall swished a long-range jumper with two minutes left in the third quarter to cut the Red lead to 24-9

Joshua Davis III followed it up with two straight made shots to bring the Gray team within single digits of the lead, trailing 24-13.

The Red team made the necessary shots down the stretch to finish an undefeated season with a championship. Red team head coach Jason Rogers said there was a reason why his team was so successful this season.

“They did play good team ball,” Rogers said. “That’s why we were winning.”

 

Red 22, Gray 5 (K-2)

The Red team stormed past the Gray team 22-5 to win the YMCA kindergarten – second grade championship Wednesday at the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County.

The Red team led 14-3 at halftime. Jordan Glover made a shot for the Gray team in the fourth quarter to cut the Red team lead to 18-5.

With 2:40 remaining in the game, O’mari Smith hit a long-range jump shot to give his team a 20-5 lead.

After getting fouled on the next possession, he rebounded his own miss and made another shot to make it 22-5 and secure the championship for his team.

Smith’s father and head coach, Marlon Smith couldn’t be prouder of the way his team finished the season.

“I’m very excited and happy that we won the championship,” Marlon said. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication.”