Paul Jackson Jr. knew there was plenty riding on the line Tuesday night.

The MLK senior was playing against a good friend on the court, while one of his best friends was not allowed to play. However, Jackson was not looking to make the game personal, but he was going to do what was necessary to make sure his team won.

Jackson picked it up in the second half to help MLK to a 58-50 win over Duluth in the Atlanta Hardwood High School Jam Fest at North Atlanta.

“I had to control the game,” Jackson said. “I didn’t have to shoot every time. We had to come together and pull out the win.”

The Lions (1-2) were without senior forward Greg King, who was suspended for leaving the bench the day before in an incident that involved Jackson. This was the first time MLK would be without the 6-foot-6 forward.

Younger MLK players had to step up in King’s absence. Kevon Harris did just that. The 6-foot-5 forward maneuvered inside on the offensive end, while he controlled the boards on the both ends of the floor. He filled a void left by King finishing with a game-high 20 points.

Harris’ effort allowed the floor to open up for Jackson. The unsigned senior went to the basket looking to score. He knocked down jumpers or attacked the basket with a purpose against a good friend Duluth’s Zaynah Robinson.

“I needed to be more forceful late in the game,” said Jackson, who finished with 19 points. “I knew Zee could score and it was going to be difficult.”

Robinson was determined to get the Wildcats going, despite his team’s slow start in the first quarter. The Norfolk State signee danced through the lane cutting the lead 56-50 with less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, Duluth was unable to get any closer as it missed scoring opportunities. It also could not overcome its 12-4 start of the game.

“It takes us getting hit in the mouth first before we punch back,” said Robinson, who finished with 17 points. “We have to throw the first punch. I take that on myself with the slow start. We have to come out better.”

Tri-Cities 70, Shiloh 63

Emmanuel Rainey was crafty in leading the Bulldogs (2-0) to victory. He scored a game-high 19 points, most of them in the second quarter. The senior guard was poised against a Generals (0-1) defense. Shawntrez Davis chipped in with 12 points. Charles Stokes added 10 points.

Shiloh’s Joshua Okogie finished with 18 points. Kareem Brewton added 10 points.

Jonesboro 64, Luella 51

The Cardinals used a second-half surge to run away from the Lions. Austin Donaldson and Tracy Hector Jr. led the surge. Hector finished with 11 points, while Donaldson chipped in with eight.

Luella’s TeMarcus Blanton tried to keep his team from falling further apart. The South Carolina signee scored 23 points but it was not enough in the end.

Westlake 69, North Atlanta 56

Tyler Williams found went off in the fourth quarter, while Raymond Saunders balanced out the scoring to help lead the Lions. Saunders finished with 18 points. Williams added 12, most in the final quarter. Dominic Joseph had 13.

North Atlanta, who was playing without junior forward Noah Dickerson, got good contribution from Ronald Bell and Myles Jenkins. Jenkins had 13 points. Bell chipped in with nine.