PB Showdown wrapup

Booker T. Washington coach Fred Horton, right, lifts the championship trophy for the 25th Poplar Bluff Showdown as his team, including Martavius Newby (10) looks on Friday night at Peters Gym. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Brian Rosener)

Here's the bracket and photos from the 25th Poplar Bluff Showdown.

Martavius Newby did the little things late Friday night to lift his team to the 25th Poplar Bluff Showdown title.

The senior scored 18 points to lead Booker T. Washington but he also set up the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:33 left, got a steal with the Warriors clinging to a 1-point lead and iced the 51-50 victory with two free throws to hold off Maplewood-Richmond Heights.

"He's a junk-yard dog, he does everything for us," BTW coach Fred Horton said of Newby, the lone unanimous pick for the all-tournament team.

The Warriors from Memphis won the Showdown title in their first appearance led by Newby, who has signed to play at Ole Miss and scored a tournament-high 72 points. He scored 11 in the second half of the final to help rally BTW (11-0).

"They jumped out on us real quick and early so we just had to get ourselves under control, keep our poise," Horton said.

The Blue Devils (5-4) jumped out to a 12-4 lead and were up by as many as 12 in the first quarter.

"I'm from the Bootheel, we don't lay down for nobody," said MRH coach Corey Frazier, a Charleston native.

Kahlid Hagens scored 20 to lead MRH, which was making its second Showdown appearance. The St. Louis school went on to win the 2008 Class 3 state title after finishing seventh here.

"Nobody came this far to play a game and lay down so we expected them to make a run," Coach Frazier said.

The Warriors cut the margin to 27-22 by halftime and caught MRH at 34 with 1:38 left in the third quarter. The teams entered the fourth tied at 36 then traded points until the midway point.

After a pair of missed 3s by the Warriors, Aaron Collins' putback put MRH up 47-43 with 3:38 to play.

However, the Blue Devils didn't score again until an uncontested 3 at the buzzer.

"That was the biggest part of the game," Horton said.

Khalill Spencer, a freshman who scored 17 and made the all-tournament team, answered for BTW before the teams traded misses.

With his team down 47-45, Newby found Zarmarcus Griffin wide open on the left wing with a pass from the paint. Griffin, who chipped in 10 points, sank the 3-pointer for the lead with 2:33 to play.

"In order to win you can't be selfish," Horton said. "You've got to include everybody in the process to be successful."

The teams traded turnovers with BTW getting whistled for an offensive foul with 1:24 to play. Tyron Moore then pounced on a loose ball, diving to slap it towards midcourt where Spencer picked it up and was fouled with 33 seconds left.

Spencer hit his second attempt for a 49-47 lead and Jemarcus Franklin got a steal to send Newby to the line with 19 second to play. He missed the one-and-one opportunity but after a timeout, got a steal at midcourt as the Blue Devils were in transition.

Newby's two free throws with 3.7 seconds left put the Warriors up 51-47.

Over the final 2:33, the Blue Devils turned the ball over five times after committing just eight earlier in the game.

Jake Hensel, who was named to the all-tournament team, and MRH junior Corey Frazier were held scoreless in the second half and finished with a combined 10 points after each averaged 14 points in the first two days.

"That's what happens in championship games, the least expected is always expected," Coach Frazier said.

Both teams may be back next year as the defending champion is traditionally asked to return and MRH features just one starting senior.

All-tournament selections also included Sylvan Hills' Archie Goodwin, a Kentucky signee, Bennie Williams of Memphis Kirby, Forrest City sophomore Trey Thompson and Tupelo's Dajon Reno.

From earlier

Final: Memphis Booker T. Washington 51, Maplewood-RH 50

Martavius Newby scored 18 points and freshman Khalill Spencer added 17 to lead Booker T. Washington to the Showdown title.

Newby set up Zarmarcus Griffin for the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:33 left. Spencer added a free throw with 33 seconds to go and Newby added a pair of free throws with 3.7 left for a 51-47 lead. In between, the Blue Devils turned the ball over five times and also went the final 3:37 between baskets.

Kahlid Hagens hit a 3 at the buzzer to set the final score and lead MRH with 20 points.

MRH jumped out to a 12-4 lead and led by as many as 12 in the first quarter. But BTW closed the gap to 27-22 by halftime and caught the Blue Devils at 34 with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

The teams were tied at 36 heading into the fourth.

Aaron Collins' outback with 3:38 to play gave MRH a 47-43 lead but Spencer answered with a bucket before Griffin's go-ahead 3 nearly a minute later. After the teams traded turnovers, MRH had the ball down 1 but a loose ball was slapped by a diving Tyron Moore, who flicked the ball ahead to Spencer, forcing a foul.

Jemarcus Franklin also got a steal but Newby missed a one-and-one with 19.2 seconds left. Moore then picked up a steal but was called for traveling with 11.6 seconds left. This time, Newby got a steal at midcourt and hit two free throws with 3.7 seconds left.

BTW (11-0) won the title in its first trip to the Showdown.

MRH (5-4) reached the finals in its second Showdown appearance. The Blue Devils finished seventh here in 2007 and went on to win the MSHSAA Class 3 state title.

The all-tournament team featured Newby, Spencer and Jake Hensel of MRH, who scored all his of his points in the first half but scored 27 in the first two games.

Sylvan Hills Archie Goodwin, Forrest City's Trey Thompson, Bennie Williams of Kirby and Dajon Reno of Tupelo were also named to the all-tournament team.

Third place: Kirby 57, Tupelo 46

Kirby jumped out to a 10-point lead early but as they did in the first two games, the Golden Wave rallied. Tupelo got within three with just under 5 minutes to play but Kirby finished on a 10-2 run.

Fifth place: Sylvan Hills 69, Forrest City 57

Sylvan Hills jumped out to a 10-2 lead and led by as many as 15. But the Mustangs rallied to within 33-32 just before the halftime break.

The Bears extended their lead with the final five points of the third quarter and kept the run going in the fourth, reaching a double-digit lead. The Mustangs never got closer than six.

Seventh place: Poplar Bluff 44, Hillcrest 43

Mules lead 26-18 at halftime.

Mules up 42-41 with the ball and 15.2 seconds left ... Hillcrest had three fouls to give and the Mules were able to run off 5 seconds. On final inbound play, Joey Bloodworth was fouled, hits first free throw, splashes second.

But the Mules fouled on the run, with Michael Griggs pulling on the shorts of the player, getting an intentional foul. Hillcrest's Jermell Abram hits two free throws, cut margin to 44-43 and Hillcrest gets ball.

The Vikings got a shot off under the basket but missed, giving the Mules a 44-43 win.