Saturday’s clash between the Mavericks and A1 Awards & Promotions had been a tit-for-tat affair for the first 10 minutes. The two teams matched each other shot for shot, with Kalijah Booth providing an early highlight when he weaved through A1’s defense for a layup.

The two teams finished the opening period deadlocked at 6-6. Then the Mavericks took over. They used speed to score and clamped down on defense to take the 7-8 boys’ crown, 33-21.

The Mavericks had a stretch of eight unanswered points in the second quarter. Kenny Tucker hit a layup through contact and finished the three-point play at the line. Steve Jones and Vincent Warren Jr. also had buckets during the run.

Tucker and Booth each drew fouls on baskets in the third. The Mavericks outscored A1 11-1 in the quarter to take a 29-10 lead into the final 10 minutes. Jordan Moore and Ky’leig Mackey got points at the charity stripe, but A1 went through the middle stanzas without a made field goal.

But A1 rallied in the fourth. Mackey’s layup sparked a surge, and a Moore jumper cut the Mavericks’ lead to 30-21. Time was working against A1, though, and the near 20-point deficit was too much to overcome.