Chalmette guard Cartlon Campbell (1) loses control of the ball while being defended by a pair of Kingwood Christian players during the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic at the Alario Center in Westwego on Friday, January 6, 2017. (Photo by Peter G. Forest)

CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER (TEXAS) 56, CHALMETTE 53

at Alario Center in Westwego, Friday (Jan. 6), Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic, boys semifinals

Records: Chalmette, 12-4; Christian Life 12-5

HOW IT WAS WON

In a game that was never separated by more than five points throughout the first 26 minutes, Christian Life went on a 7-0 run to open the fourth quarter and held on despite a valiant Chalmette comeback effort and a show by Owls center Mitchell Robinson.

Nicolas Elame hit a short bucket to give the Cougars a 56-47 lead with 2:40 to play, and it seemed like that was game, set, match. But the Owls never quit, and after Carlton Campbell and Marlon Decoud hit 3-pointers – the last one coming with 32 seconds remaining, the lead was trimmed to 56-53.

A lane violation on Christian Life before Sunny Ozoh ever took the first shot of a 1-and-1 with 15 seconds remaining gave Chalmette one more chance. But Glenshaw Amos’ 20-footer hit off the front rim, bounced off the back rim and the buzzer sounded to end it.

Throughout the game, Robinson had some crazy dunks, and hit a 3-pointer from about 23 feet, as well. He was 10-of-17 from the field to finish with a game-high 23 points to go with nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals.

NOTABLE

  • The first four field goals made for Chalmette’s Mitchell Robinson were dunks, either off putbacks or alley oops. He also had three highlight-reel blocks, including on a 3-point attempt, in which the ball went 30 feet toward the Christian Life goal. Robinson then grabbed it in stride and slammed it home for his 12th point of the game.
  • Chalmette shot 32.8 percent from the field on 19-of-58 shooting. Other than Robinson, the rest of the team was 9-for-41. Christian Life was 51.1 percent on 24-of-47 shooting, and they outrebounded the Owls, 24-16.

SCORE BY QUARTER

End of first: Christian Life 15, Chalmette 14

End of second: Christian Life 29, Chalmette 27

End of third: Christian Life 43, Chalmette 41

Final: Christian Life 53, Chalmette 50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Chalmette: Mitchell Robinson 23 (10-17 FG), Carlton Campbell 12 (3-12), Glenshaw Amos (8 (2-12), Larry Bently 4 (2-7), Marlon Decoud 3 (1-2), Dane Kiersey 3 (1-3). Rest of team 0-5 FG.

Christian Life: Cameron Mack 17 (7-15 FG), Serigne Ndiaye 12 (5-7), David Iwowiri 11 (4-6), Taj Royster 10 (5-8), Nicolas Elame 6 (3-8). Rest of team 0-3 FG.

HE SAID IT

Chalmette coach Butch Stockton: “They battled hard all the way through until the end. When you fight, you give yourself a chance to win at the end of the game, and I am very proud of them. Playing a game like this, you learn how to control the basketball. They have some really good shot blockers on that team (eight blocks), but our kids didn’t get intimidated. I also thought we played excellent defense. We created a couple of turnovers and gave ourselves a chance.”

NEXT UP: Christian Life will take on the winner of the Scotlandville-South Miami (Fla.) game at 8 p.m. Saturday in the championship game. Chalmette will take on the loser in the third-place game at 5 p.m.

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Jim Derry can be reached at jderry@nola.com or 504.232.9944. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JimDerryJr.