SUWANEE, GA -- The 16 and under championship game at the Best of the South had several motivators for the Florida Elite squad. Naturally, the team wanted to win the entire tournament. Second, the team wanted another crack at the Upward Stars.  

They got their wish and the kids from the Sunshine State had to use every ounce of energy left in their legs to pull off the 54-50 victory. It was a one-point game with less than a minute to play.

Donovan Hale, the top overall performer for the Elite all week, led the way with 18 points in the win. The 6-foot-4 wing from Largo (Fla.) High School sank some important free throws down the stretch to help seal the victory.

What was the team's secret when down the stretch?

"Hard work and hitting big shots," Hale said. "You know, we lost to them the first time we played them and I knew we weren't going to lose to them again. We had to come out and work hard, out hustle them and make shots. We couldn't lose to them again."

Hale didn't do it alone. Wing Jonathan Crawford shot the ball and ended the game with 12 points. Rasim Avmet added eight in the win.

"We had to come out there and show them who we are," Hale said.

Upward had 10 points from Randall Shaw while JJ Arcega Whiteside scored nine points and Antwan Maxwell added seven.