Everything begins at the top for Miller Grove’s basketball team. Guards Keith Pinckney and Alterique Gilbert are the spark plugs that makes everything go.

The duo sets the tempo and tone earl for the Wolverines and it doesn’t stop until the final buzzer. Miller Grove used its tandem and its signature defensive pressure to beat Buford 73-49 on Saturday night during the Jared Cook Classic.

“Those guys get us going,” Miller Grove coach Sherman White said. “It’s good to have two lead guards. They did whatever is expected of them to do.”

Pinckney and Gilbert did anything they wanted from the opening tip. They each drained jumpers, found open teammates and got to the basket with ease. Miller Grove was in control from that point and never looked back.

Gilbert had 18 points and four assists. Pinckney added 17 points and five assists. The duo combined for 13-of-29 from the field and 46 percent (7-for-15) from three-point range.

“We have a high level of respect for each other,” Pinckney, a Tulane signee said. “Once we get going, we just try to find each other.”

However, whenever they were not looking for each other or making shots, senior’s Devin Dorsett and James Walker stepped in. Dorsett, who is headed to Norfolk State, scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Walker chipped in with 14 points and six rebounds.

Defensively, the Wolverines jumped all over Buford (0-1). The Wolves struggled to get anything going on the offensive end. The two bright spots for Buford were D’Marcus Simmonds and Rakim Lubin. They combined for 27 points (Simmonds 14 and Lubin 13). Lubin also pulled down 10 rebounds before fouling out.

Buford’s duo, however, was not enough for Miller Grove’s backcourt mate.

“We have a good relationship on and off the court,” Gilbert said. “It is hard to explain.”

What was difficult for anyone to understand was what Gilbert did just before halftime. The 5-foot-11 sophomore made a steal took one dribble and threw down a one-handed dunk.

Everyone at North Gwinnett High was speechless.

“It surprised me,” said Pinckney with a smile.

Gilbert added, “It’s something I’ve been working on.”