The South Team was in control, leading 38-28 with under three minutes left before the North Team stormed back with 17 unanswered points to claim a 45-38 victory and win the Elite Junior Classic for the second straight year. The North Team's late comeback

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was part of a 25-point scoring outburst in the final quarter and it was fueled by a late touchdown grab by K.J. Hancock that proved to be the game-winner. 

Hancock, a North Gwinnett receiver, finished the game with three touchdowns, including the go-ahead 31-yard touchdown grab from Stockton McGuire (Landmark Christian) with 1:58 left to give the North Team a 42-38 lead.

Hancock was a late addition to the Elite Junior Classic and only got the opportunity to play in the game when his North Gwinnett teammate Josh Imatorbhebhe injured his foot this postseason and could not participate. Hancock came into the Elite Junior Classic with just 11 catches all season in the star-studded North Gwinnett offense, but would finish Monday with nine catches for 150 yards to go with his three touchdowns and walked away with the Overall MVP honors.

"I have never had a game like this in my life," admitted Hancock. "I knew I wanted to come out and try to make plays but I was not expecting to score three touchdowns and have a game like this."

Before the North offense ignited in the fourth quarter, it was the South Team's passing game that was controlling much of the game. Blessed Trinity quarterback Conor Davis turned in a four-touchdown performance with 20-of-26 passing and 357 yards through the air. Davis' first touchdown pass was on a scramble that eventually went to Marion County's Lorenzo Smothers over the middle. Davis' pass sailed over the head of Smothers, but with one hand, Smothers leapt and secured the highlight-reel catch before diving into the endzone for the touchdown. 

Two minutes later, the South team was on the board again as Davis connected with Tyler Simmons, who then pitched back to Sam Jackson on the hook and ladder for a 55-yard touchdown

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to extend the lead to 21-10. Hancock answered the Jackson touchdown with an 11-yard touchdown reception from McGuire that cut the South Team's halftime lead to 21-17.

The North Team opened the second half with a 34-yard Chase Staton (Gainesville) field goal before Davis found Tray Eafford (Lee County) for a 59-yard touchdown pass. McGuire knotted it up at 28-28 with a 26-yard North touchdown pass to D.J. Owens (North Paulding) on the first snap of the fourth quarter but Alex Barbir (South Forsyth) booted a 51-yard field goal and Davis found Colquitt County's Kiel Pollard on a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the South Team back up by 10 points (38-28). North quarterback Joseph Mancuso (Union County) found Owens for his second score to cut it to 38-35 and Staton executed a perfect onside kick that was recovered by Jesse Reverio (Cedar Grove) to keep the ball in the North Team's hands. McGuire took advantage of the opportunity and hit Hancock for the 31-yard clinching score.

The South Team got a final chance but Sandy Creek's Javon Jackson stole the hook and ladder attempt and ran it all the way to the South 10-yard line to set up a late Staton field goal. The South Team finished with 428 total yards of offense to the North Team's 408 total yards. Roswell's Marcelino Ball turned in 10 tackles to lead the North team and included one tackle for the loss, while earning the Defensive MVP. Davis walked away with Offensive MVP with his four touchdown passes.

Georgia's top 8th grade All-Star teams met at McEachern Monday morning to kickoff the Elite Junior double header. Georgia Force quarterback Ross Malmgren threw two first half touchdowns and the defense stifled the Future Stars, resulting in a 26-0 Force victory. The Force took the opening kickoff and Malmgren advanced the offense to the Stars 37-yard line with a completion to Zion Hawkins, who hauled in the pass with a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch. A minute later, Malmgren took to the air again and found Ryland Goede for a 19-yard touchdown.

The Stars took over and got their first taste of the Force defense. Stars quarterback Kyle Terry lofted a pass that was intercepted by Justin Tew and returned 47 yards to the 20-yard line. The Force would not capitalize on the turnover, however, and a 4th down pass to Goede fell incomplete and the Stars reclaimed possession. The teams traded possessions with no points until Malmgren found Dominick Blaylock for a 37-yard touchdown on a 4th and 17 call. Blaylock caught a touchdown earlier in the quarter but it was called back for a flag. He finished with a game-high 107 yards off six receptions and was named the Offensive MVP.

In the second half, the teams went scoreless in the third quarter and remained that way until future McEachern running back Paris Brown played the role of closer. Brown ran in a 2-yard touchdown to put the Force up 20-0 with 4:40 to play and iced the game less than two minutes later with an 11-yard score. Brown finished with 11 carries for 44 yards.

The Force out-gained the Stars 247-to-89 in total offense and forced forced five fumbles (recovered one) while adding a pair of Tew interceptions. The Stars, however, were able to showcase their talented pass rush throughout the game. Led by De'Andre Ferguson and Bevin Glanton, the Stars produced seven sacks. Ferguson and Glanton each finished with a pair of sacks and Kenny Edwards, Keiondre Jones and Trevon Salter added one sack each. Edwards was named the Defensive Player of the Game with his sack and 10 total tackles.

Greater Atlanta Christian's boys coach Eddie Martin won his 750th high school basketball game Monday night, beating Greenbrier 85-43 in the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament. Martin also coached at Brookwood and Norcross and has won seven state titles including four in the last five seasons at GAC.

Lake City Classic: It was a busy day at Allatoona High School as Carrollton boys knocked off Harrison 54-47. Montae Glenn of Carrollton had 24 points and 14 rebounds. Dishon Lowery had 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks to lead McIntosh to a 61-58 win Hillgrove. Jordan Lyons had 25 points for the Chiefs In a high-scoring game that came down to the final minute, Fayette County fell to Pleasure Ridge Park (KY) 78-74. Richard Gaines of Pleasure Ridge Park had 30 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals. Also, North Cobb Christian couldn't stay with Spain Park (AL), losing 69-54. Jamal Johnson of Spain Park has 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

Deep South Classic: Athens Christian, who went to the finals last season at Class A Private, beat host Brookwood 59-53. Athens Christian will face Woodward Academy in Tuesday night's championship game. Woodward beat Duluth 60-57 to get to the championship. Cambridge's Nithin Balaji hit a three-pointer with four seconds left in regulation to take it to overtime but the Johns Creek boys came back and won 79-70 behind Mark Lancaster's 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Lake City Classic:  Garrick DeBowles led the Pope boys to a 66-57 win over Tri-Cities with 23 points and 10 rebounds at Allatoona High School.

High School Basketball Scores

Chick-Fil-A Classic (at Tucker High School)

Boys

Meridian (MS) 65, Cedar Grove 55

Miller Grove 59, Jenkins 52

Gainesville 67, M.L. King 54

Glenn Hills 36, Stephenson 32

Jackson-Olin (AL) 54, Sandy Creek 51

Deep South Classic (at Brookwood High School)

Boys

Johns Creek 79, Cambridge 70

Woodward Academy 60, Duluth 57

Athens Christian 59, Brookwood 53

Girls

Brookwood 51, Tucker 46

Woodward Academy 65, Franklin County 61

Lake City Classic (at Allatoona High School)

Boys

Carrollton 54, Harrison 47

North Cobb 70, South Miami (FL) 48

McIntosh 61, Hillgrove 58

Pleasure Ridge Park (KY) 78, Fayette County 74

Spain Park (AL) 69, North Cobb Christian 54

Pope 66, Tri-Cities 57

Nike BMSAP Holiday Classic (at Berkmar High School)

Boys

Coral Gables (FL) 48, Roswell 42

Campbell Holiday Classic (at Campbell High School)

Boys

Dunwoody 55, Campbell 45

Marist 72, Riverdale 52

Mays 65, Towers 55

Etowah 55, Wilson (DC) 49

Girls

Cambridge 46, Tri-Cities 19

Pope 63, Booker T. Washington 48

Grady 42, Pebblebrook 32

Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament (at Walnut Grove High School)

Boys

Greater Atlanta Christian 85, Greenbrier 43

Other Scores

Boys

Central Gwinnett 71, Cox Mill (NC) 65
East Hamilton (TN) 54, Rome 52
Evans 65, Warren County 62 (OT)
Flowery Branch 50, West Hall 40
Grovetown 58, Lakeside-Evans 56
Lanier 57, North Oconee 44
Madison County 64, Jackson County 50
McEachern 55, Clay-Chalkville (AL) 46
North Clayton 53, Marianna (FL) 33
Pace Academy 85, Benedictine 39
Paideia 54, Lovett 38
Pepperell 82, Bremen 68
West Gadsden 63, Berrien 42
White County 76, Union County 69
Cartersville 71, Adairsville 40
Opelika (AL) 74, LaGrange 65
Peachtree Ridge 67, Shaker Heights (OH) 64

Girls

Columbus 79, Randolph-Clay 23
Greenbrier 72, Sevier County (TN) 56
Laney 62, North Augusta 33
Mid Valley (SC) 54, Aquinas 42
Mill Creek 71, Madison County (FL) 37
Cambridge 47, Tri-Cities 19
Cass 60, Ridgeland 40
Hiram 51, Beach 43