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The Journey had just beaten No. 2 Generation Changers 66-56 in the second semifinal immediately preceding the championship game. But it continued shooting the ball well as Ethan Fields and Isaac Johnson each connected on two 3-pointers in the first half.

On the other end, Pickett Rucker failed to hit a 3 the entire game. Despite this, PR only trailed by five points at halftime before unveiling a full-court man-to-man defense in the second half which forced several turnovers. Point guard Macieo Gaines attacked the paint continuously to convert layups or pass the ball to the open cutter. PR had a chance to win with .3 second left in regulation on an inbounds lob to post Austin Hicks, whose tip-in hit the back iron and bounced long.

But Pickett Rucker stuck to its game plan in overtime as Gaines scored the first four points and Hicks hit all four of his free throws.

Johnson sank a 3 with 20 seconds left to draw The Journey to within three. But Hicks hit free throws to seal the win as Pickett Rucker added a second banner to join its 2023 title.

Gaines scored a game-high 21 points while Hicks had 13.

Johnson led The Journey with 17 points while Fields and Director of Young Adults Ministry Hunter Cristian, battling cramps, each scored 10.

The league will donate $500 to Wilson Rides on behalf of Pickett Rucker. Wilson Rides provides safe, affordable transportation within Wilson County to older adults unable to drive themselves. The league has donated over $3,500 since 2019 to local charities, including Compassionate Hands, Sherry’s Hope, Brooks House and the Pregnancy Care Center.

SEMIFINALS

Pickett Rucker 66, Providence 48

Pickett Rucker jumped to an early lead over short-handed No. 4 Providence. All 10 PR players scored in the first half, but none with more than five points, in building a 15-point lead.

Despite more aggressive driving from Associate Director of Student Ministries Zac Anderson and wing Jordan Hooper, which led to 17 free-throw attempts between the pair, Providence was unable to chip away at the lead. Hooper led Providence with 21 points while Anderson added 13.

Shooting guard Kadarian Garnett scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half for Pickett Rucker.

The Journey 66, Generation Changers 56

The Journey’s run of upsets continued as its hot shooting led to the defeat of the defending league champion. Wing Isaac Johnson opened the game with three straight 3-pointers before small forward Ethan Fields dropped in a couple before the team’s first miss.

Generation Changers withstood that opening flurry well enough to trail 15-9. But The Journey got a second wind with a 10-0 run near the end of the first half to open a 14-point halftime lead.

The Journey held the league’s leading scorer, Tazz Marbury, to 17 points, down from his 21.8 average. Kendall Williams, the fourth-leading scorer, was less than a point shy of his average with 17.

Fields poured in 20 points, Hunter Christian had 18 and Johnson 15 for the winners.