Heading into Friday’s title game, fans, players and coaches from Cornerstone Christian School felt like they still hadn’t seen the Chargers play their best basketball during the AISA Final Four.

They got what they were looking for in the Class 1A finals, as Cornerstone edged Marion Millitary Institute in overtime, 61-56.

MMI drained a 3-pointer with less than a minute to play to force the extra period.

&uot;We just knew we had to keep going,&uot; said Cornerstone’s Jamal Prentice. &uot;That was just a lucky 3 so we had to come back and fight, and it turned out the ball bounced our way.&uot;

The Chargers outscored MMI, 7-2, in overtime, capped by Prentice’s final basket with 11 seconds to go. The junior finished with a career-high 28 points.

Cornerstone (20-4) was awarded the championship trophy on the floor of the Delchamps Student Center at Huntindon College in Montgomery, which hosted the tourney. It was the school’s first state title in any sport.

&uot;This win, I don’t know how you would put it except that it kind of puts us on the map,&uot; said Cornerstone coach Tim Smith. &uot;It shows that we are a legitimate program because in the past we’ve been beat up in basketball.&uot;

Tournament MVP Jonathan McKinney and Beau Beggs each scored 10 points for CCS. Dustin Shears had nine points and Ty Younblood added four for the Chargers.

Cornerstone 42, Autauga Academy 32: Jonathan McKinney led the Chargers with 12 points as they coasted past Autauga and into the 1A finals. Jamal Prentice scored 10 points for Cornerstone.

AISA Girls

Lowndes Academy 35, Shelby Academy 28: All of the Raiders’ first-half points were scored by sophomore Kendra Bristow as Shelby Academy (14-6) fell to Lowndes in the AISA Final Four tournament at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

Escambia Academy 64, Kingwood Christian School: Kingwood’s season ended Tuesday of last week as the Lions fell to Escambia at the Delchamps Student Center in the AISA Final Four. Escambia went on to win the state title in Class 2A play