Alabama All-Stars outlast Mississippi All-Stars

Ivan McDowell, Southeast/Mid-South Editor

Sullivan scores 27; named MVP in 18th Annual Showdown

April 6, 2007 - The Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game annually features the top talent in the neighboring states and this year was no exception. Players such as Alabama’s Frankie Sullivan and Xavier Gibson squared off against Mississippi’s finest, Romero Osby and Rashanti Harris.

In back and forth affair, it would be the Alabama defense that would prove pivotal as the teams headed down the stretch. They would turn up the defensive intensity in the final minutes to hold on.

Trailing 89-84, a pair of free throws by Mississippi's Chris Wallace closed the gap to five, but Alabama went on a 15-4 run to earn the win and even the series at nine wins apiece.

Alabama started the game-winning spurt with a pair of dunks, one by R.C. Hatch's Nicholas Johnson and another by Northview's Xavier Gibson. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa's Wayne Dedrick then tipped in Johnson's miss for a 90-89 Alabama lead. Mississippi tied the game on a free throw by Latavious Williams of Starkville, but two free throws from Alabama's Sullivan gave his squad a lead it would not lose.

Mississippi closed the margin to 94-93 on two free throws by Terry Church of Lanier and another free throw by Romero Osby of Northeast Lauderdale. Alabama extended its lead with five straight points before a pair of Mississippi 3-pointers in the last 17 seconds by Dale Hughes of New Hope and Osby accounted for the final margin.

Auburn signee Sullivan, named the MVP, led all scorers with 27 points, including 17 in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds. Sullivan also converted three baskets from 3-point range and handed out four assists. Dedrick added 22 points, Johnson scored 12, and Gibson added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Dale Hughes, making 6-of-10 from 3-point range, led Mississippi with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Church added 17 points while Rashanti Harris of New Hope and Osby scored 12 points apiece.