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Both the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots and Zion Chapel Rebels traveled to Elba over the New Year’s weekend to compete in the Pea River Christmas Classic, which New Brockton ultimately won.

Pike Lib opened up the tournament with a close 55-52 loss to host Elba. Jackson Mitchell led the Patriots with 16 points in the loss, while Chase Deboer scored 14 points and Sawyer Keck added 10 points. Elba was led by Alvin Henderson and Ty Sieving, who both scored 16 points each.

PLAS followed that up with an exciting 65-64 win over Pleasant Home. Despite trailing 56-41 going into the final period, PLAS outscored the eagles 24-8 in the final quarter of play. Pike senior Will Rice led the comeback with 10 points in the fourth quarter and Mitchell knocked down a jumper with three seconds remaining to lift Pike to the fifth-place game on Saturday.

Mitchell scored a season-high 29 points in the win, while Keck scored 16 and Rice added 14 points.

Meanwhile, Zion Chapel lost 43-27 to TR Miller in the opening round of the tournament.

Next, Zion Chapel defeated Brantley 60-46 for a dominant win to earn a spot in the fifth place game against Pike. Slade Grantham led the Rebels with 23 points in the win, while Mason Stuart added 12 points and Joseph LeGear scored nine.

In the fifth place game, Zion Chapel bested Pike Lib 68-56 to take fifth place overall in the tournament. Grantham led the way for ZCHS with 23 points, while Jacob Chestnut added 18 points and Mason Stuart tallied a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Keck led the Patriots with 18 points, while Mitchell added 15 points and Rice scored 13 points.

New Brockton went on to win the Pea River Christmas Classic Championship with a 61-59 win over Luverne in the finals. TR Miller knocked off host Elba 46-39 in the third-place game.