The Alleghany Highlands Bandits, an area AAU fifth grade boys basketball team, recently won the Eastern Greenbrier Athletic Boosters All-Star Tournament held February 25-March 5 at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.
Team members include Amir Young, Bret Worley, Garrett Crawford, Tyrell Dutch, Jordan Richeson, Shawn Spinner, Cade Nicely and Trey Honts. The Bandits are coached by Jason Helmintoller and Rob Honts.
The Bandits lost their first game of the tournament to the White Sulphur Springs All-Stars, 32-31, but they rebounded to win four straight elimination games in the double-elimination format.
The Bandits first win came over the Marlinton All-Stars, 37-15, and then they ousted the Lewisburg All-Stars, 49-29.
The Bandits trailed the Roncevert All-Stars by six with three minutes to play, but rallied to win the game, 48-45, and advance to the championship against White Sulphur Springs.
The Bandits avenged their only loss by handing White Springs a 37-23 loss, which gave both teams one loss and set-up a winner-take-all championship game.
In the championship finale, Alleghany took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter only to see White Sulphur rally back to take a one-point lead with 1:30 to play.
Alleghany answered White Sulphur’s call on their next possession to retake the lead for good and their defense held on for the 38-37 win and to claim the tournament championship.