Nerves were tested and players rose to the challenge during the fourth- and fifth-grade championship game of the Hoopster Basketball League post-season tournament. The Razorbacks and Spartans battled for the crown Feb. 21 at Langston Hughes Elementary.

The Razorbacks rode the stellar play of guard Shane Willoughby to a 31-19 victory. Willoughby poured in a game-high 15 points and added one assist, one steal and one block to his stats in the big game.

“It feels pretty good,” Willoughby said of winning the championship. “I just wanted to do what I could to help the team win, either scoring or dishing off to a teammate.

Both teams had trouble finding rhythm early in the game. Open looks weren’t falling and each team turned the ball over multiple times. Erick Mayo got the scoring started from the free-throw line for the Razorbacks while Sam Hearnen put in the first bucket for the Spartans. That small 2-1 lead early in the first was the only time the Spartans would be in front.

As the nerves settled, both teams came out in the second quarter a little more comfortable. Willoughby got his first points of the game and sparked a 6-0 run to start the quarter. Gavin Kirk added a bucket, and Willoughby dished an assist to Dane McCullough to put the Razorbacks up 11-2.

“That run in the second quarter was pretty cool, it helped us get the win,” Willoughby said.

Razorback Dane McCullough gets tied up with Spartan Logan Banister resulting in a jump ball Feb. 21 at Langston Hughes Elementary in the fourth- and fifth-grade game.

The Spartans countered with a spurt of their own as Logan Banister and Hearnen added free throws. Creighton Gardner used a good post move to cap the run with his first bucket.

After the run, Willoughby closed the half with two straight buckets to give his team a 15-7 lead at the break.

“We had plenty of open looks the first half and throughout the game,” Spartans coach Dan Hearnen said. “They just didn’t fall.

The Razorbacks came out of the gates pressing to start the second half. And it worked. Forcing turnovers and grabbing steals, the ‘Backs extended their lead. Forward Dane McCullough continued his strong play on the glass, grabbing two more of his game-high nine rebounds. McCullough added eight points, two steals and an assist to his resume.

“They’re really athletic and their press forced us to turn the ball over way too much,” Hearnen said.

The Spartans made one final push at the start of the final period.

Alex Green snuck in a bucket after an offensive rebound. Logan Banister hit two free throws, then found an open Carter Francisco, the smallest guy on the floor, under the bucket for two more points.

The run closed the Spartans’ deficit to five points, 20-15, but it was as close as they would come to the championship.

The Razorbacks defense and strength in the paint with McCullough and Matt Baker kept the Spartans from getting any easy layups and cleaned up the loose boards.

Despite the loss, Coach Hearnen was proud of his team and their season.

“We had a great year,” Hearnen said. “In the tournament we had chances to get back at the two teams that had beaten us earlier, unfortunately, we didn’t get the game that mattered most.”

Razorbacks coach Mike Willoughby was elated for his team. The Razorbacks’ win gave him his first tournament championship in many years of coaching Hoopster basketball.

“I’ve coached a lot and never had a tourney champ,” Willoughby said. “It’s great and this is a good team, so it’s really special.”