Alabama All-Stars Win 101-99 in 2008 Classic

PELHAM – R.C. Hatch’s Frankie Sullivan, the Alabama MVP, had 27 points in leading Alabama to a 101-99 victory over Mississippi in the 2008 Alabama-Mississippi boys All-Star basketball game Thursday night.

Alabama turned up the defensive intensity in the final minutes. Trailing 89-84 after a pair of free throws from Mississippi’s Chris Wallace of Wingfield, Alabama went on a 15-4 run to earn the win.

The Alabama victory evened the series at nine wins each.

Alabama started the game-winning spurt with a pair of dunks by R.C. Hatch’s Nicholas Johnson and another by Northview’s Xavier Gibson. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa’s Wayne Dedrick tipped in Johnson’s miss for a 90-89 Alabama lead. Mississippi tied the game on a free throw by Latavious Williams of Starkville, but two free throws from Alabama’s Sullivan gave the team a lead for good.

Mississippi closed the margin to 94-93 on two free throws from Terry Church of Lanier and another free throw by Romero Osby of Northeast Lauderdale. Alabama extended its lead to 101-93 with five straight points before a pair of Mississippi 3-pointers in the last 17 seconds by Dale Hughes of New Hope and Osby accounted for the final margin.

The two teams battled evenly throughout the contest and were tied 44-all at the half. Behind Hughes’ 16 second half points, Mississippi slowly built its lead until the final minutes when Sullivan and the Alabama guards took over.

Auburn signee Sullivan led all scorers with 27 points, including 17 in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds. Sullivan also converted three baskets from 3-point range and handed out four assists. Dedrick added 22 points, Johnson scored 12, and Gibson added 11 points and 11 rebounds.