DAPHNE, Alabama — The Robertsdale Golden Bears survived a rigorous run through a gauntlet of Trojans, Toros and Tigers to claim the first-ever Bay Area Roundball Classic Championship Saturday at Daphne High.

The Bears of RHS and Tigers of Baldwin County High each went 2-0 before meeting in the title game where the Bears took the county trophy home with a 55-51 win.

Tournament MVP Dionta Banks scored 19 points for the Bears including five in the last 1:40 seconds to regain and hold the lead while teammate Alphonso Stewart added 14. The Tigers were led by Marcus Johnson's 18 and Larry Rogers 17.

“Dionta’s three-pointer came at a crucial time for us,” said RHS head coach Marshall Davis. “Then our free-throw shots came through. That was the difference tonight.”

The Bears led 31-19 at the half and most of the second half until Rogers's put back gave the Tigers a 46-45 lead with 3:55 left in the game. But Banks’ 1:40 trey seemed to check the BCHS momentum and forced the Tigers to foul to stop the clock.

RHS then hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch (16-of-23 overall) to stay out front despite a pair of steal-to-bucket transitions by Johnson to keep it close 53-51 with 14 seconds to go. But Allen Ware then went to the line with 1.10 seconds showing and completed the bonus for the final.

“We finally stepped up in that area (free throws),” Davis said. “We had struggled some earlier, so we been dedicating extra time, at least three times a practice to shooting free throws.”

He added that it was an honor to bring the inaugural county trophy to the Hub City.

“These guys worked really hard and they played really hard. They wanted it and I’m really proud of them. To come out and beat a traditional powerhouse like Baldwin County and to break a 15-game win streak they had on Robertsdale means a lot. So I’m proud of them for hanging in there and playing tough defense. I’ve been saying all along, make free throws and play good defense and we will have a chance to win, I think they are seeing how true that is and that’s a big step for us because the real test starts Tuesday.”

Tuesday the Bears who improved to 15-5 travel to Foley (8-7) for a 6A Area 3 game at 7:30 p.m. that counts toward the playoff picture. BCHS fell to 10-9 and also play an area game (6A Area 4) at home at 7:30 p.m. against Satsuma Tuesday.

The Bears beat 5A No. 9 Spanish Fort the night before 48-46 and Daphne 63-61 in the opening round on Thursday. The Tigers beat Gulf Shores 77-31, then defeated Foley 67-50 to advance to the final.

Spanish Fort bounced back from it’s loss to RHS to defeat Foley 53-52 in the Bronze bracket. Jaleel Cousins’ put-back dunk with 20 seconds to go in regulation capped the scoring as SF kept the Lions off the board the rest of the way. Cousins finished with 14 while teammates Reagan Eubanks added 11 and Caleb Hall 10. Rafael Adams led all with 20 points and fellow Lion Quinton Butler added 11. The Toros had topped Fairhope 48-39 in overtime in round one.

In the fifth-place game Fairhope defeated Bayside Academy 43-31 and in the seventh-place consolation contest Daphne beat Gulf Shores 56-47. Daphne (4-9) will travel to Fairhope (4-9) tonight for an Area 3 clash.

Daphne head coach Cedric Yelding said the tournament went well over all and that it would be hosted at different sites each year on a rotating basis. The trophy will be held by the defending champion each year.

“We’re proud to have it at Robertsdale for the next year and we’ll be proud to defend it when the time comes round next year,” Davis said.