NATCHEZ — Thirteen-year-old Devin Gray had the pressure of his entire world on his shoulders Tuesday night as he stood at the free throw line with just under three seconds to go in the AYA championship game for the fifth- and sixth-grade boys.

Gray’s Nettles Electric (Adams County Christian School) team was trailing 19-18, and the gym at Trinity Episcopal School was rocking.

“It was really intense,” Gray said. “It was hard to block out all those sounds and people yelling, ‘Miss it.’”

Gray’s first free throw hit the rim and bounced up and in to tie the game at 19. His second was more pure and dropped in to give ACCS the one-point lead that would hold to give the Rebels the championship.

“When the second one fell it felt great,” he said. “I grabbed the ball and wanted to jump up and yell. This whole season I never thought I would win the championship with free throws.”

The Natchez Democrat team (Cathedral School) had one last shot at a desperation heave to try to win the game, but the inbounds pass sailed out of bounds and ACCS won the game 20-19,

“I said this year I wanted to go win a championship in my sixth-grade year, and we did it,” Gray said.

ACCS jumped out to a big lead early and led 10-0 before Cathedral was able to score its first points of the game. ACCS took a 10-2 lead into halftime, but Cathedral made its run in the second half.

Both teams struggled for points in the third quarter as Cathedral scored four, and ACCS had just one basket from Gray, who finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds. The only other scorer for ACCS was Tyler Lindsey, who finished with six points.

Cathedral then outscored ACCS 10-4 in the fourth quarter to force the extra frame.

Cathedral’s Cedric Dunbar finished with eight points and pulled down 20 rebounds in the contest.

Owen Thibodeaux chipped in to help Dunbar with nine points of his own.

ACCS head coach Josh Hargon said it was his team’s defensive effort that pushed them to the victory.

“We got a lot of turnovers at the end, and everybody was doing their job on defense,” Hargon said.

Hargon said he was hard on the ACCS boys this season, and he was glad to see the hard work they put in pay off.

“I hope they are happy with the win,” he said. “(We got) a lot better (this season). We now can run our plays in our sleep.”

Go Mart (Cathedral) 18, Spear Electric (ACCS) 13

Go Mart (Cathedral) used a big overtime run to top Spear Electric (ACCS) in a back-and-forth contest Tuesday night in the AYA championship game for fifth- and sixth-grade girls.

Both teams traded baskets for most of the contest and at the end of regulation both were stuck on 11 points.

But Cathedral went on a big run in the overtime period and scored seven points to pull out the win.

Cathedral head coach Duane Hickombottom said his team overcame adversity to win the championship this season.

“It was a hard season,” he said. “(ACCS) beat us earlier (this season), and the girls worked hard for this championship.”

Hickombottom said Cathedral did not hang its heads after losing to ACCS in the regular season, and every player on the team has improved since the beginning of the season.

ACCS won the first half of the game and took a 6-3 lead into the break. Cathedral took the lead in the third quarter by outscoring ACCS 4-0 in the period. But, ACCS answered by winning the final period 5-4 to force overtime.

Cathedral’s Baylee Granning netted four points in the overtime frame and scored nine in the contest to lead the Green Wave.

“It feels very good,” she said. “(The game) was very hard, and we all had to work together.”

Paige Rentfro helped Cathedral’s offense with five points, while Semaj Hickombottom and Daisha Woods each scored two points for Cathedral.

Carley Delaney led ACCS with six points in the game, and Michaela Ashley scored five points for the Lady Rebels. Marlee Magee added two points.

Duane said he was proud of the way both teams played.

“I have to give the AC girls credit,” he said. “They haven’t lost a game all year.”