McClintock bordered on being too gracious a host Saturday afternoon at its annual Holiday Shootout, but recovered in time to advance to the winner's bracket in the opening round against Sunrise Mountain.

Jamal Johnson snapped a 49-49 tie with a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to boost McClintock to a 54-49 win over Sunrise Mountain. McClintock added a steal and layup before the final buzzer that prevented Sunrise Mountain from getting off a shot to tie the game. Those final-second heroics capped a rally from what was a 16-point deficit late in the first half.

"We've been down like that before this year," McClintock coach Sam Dentz said. "It's not something we want to make a habit of, but it does show we have the ability to come back. We did it last year in the first round of the this tournament. I think we were down 20 to Saguaro."

Johnson, who is one of Dentz's first subs, has been the man in both of McClintock's rallies from large deficits this season. The Chargers trailed Betty Fairfax by 15 with five minutes left earlier this month. In the end it was Johnson who sank the game-winner. Johnson is averaging just three points a game. He had few chances Saturday, but made all three of his field goals and his only free throw to finish with eight points. The offense needed him as McClintock was 4 of 20 from the field the first 13 minutes. The Chargers rally from a 26-10 deficit began with a 7-0 run the final 1:49 before halftime. The outburst extended  4 1/2 more minutes into the third period with a 10-0 run. The game was tight the final 11 minutes.

"(Jamal) comes in for whoever might be struggling," Dentz said. "Tonight it was history repeating itself."

The focal point of McClintock's offense revolves around seniors Malique Washington and Amiri Chukwuemeka. Washington scored a game-high 21 points  and Chekwuemeka had 13. They combined for 38 shots making a third of them. Sunrise Mountain built its double-digit lead with a strong first-quarter from Elijah Thomas.Thomas, however, scored only four points over the final three periods. Thomas and Michael Walcott led the Mustangs with 13 points each. 

"During one of the timeouts in the first half we talked about this being a grimey type of game," Dentz said. "We win a lot of high-scoring games, like 85-80. We had to figure out a way to win this somehow."

McClintock (10-2) takes on Desert Mountain in Monday's (Dec. 28) quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Sunrise Mountain (6-5) plays in the consolation quarters against Cienega at 2:30 p.m.

Boulder Creek 74, Dobson 70: Justin Braun's three-point shot with 29 seconds left gave Boulder Creek one of its rare leads and Nick Johnson added four free throws in the final 20 seconds to lift the Jaguars past Dobson in the first round of the McClintock Holiday Shootout at McClintock HS.

Boulder Creek (8-3) advances to the winner's bracket quarterfinals Monday (Dec. 28) against Apollo (10-2), a 77-57 winner over Campo Verde. Johnson led all scorers with 22 points -- 18 in the second half. He also made 11 of 12 free throws, including the final 11 in a row. Braun checked in with 13 points. Braun extended his range to three-point land after hitting three other field goals from 12 to 15 feet. Boulder Creek trailed 47-36 with 2:42 left in the third period, but gradually pared the deficit and took its first lead with 4:15 to play. Dobson (6-3) was led by Amaury Matthews' 20 points and 16 from post Theron Long.  Long made a living inside with five of his seven baskets off offensive rebounds. Dobson plays next Monday at 11:30 a.m. against Campo Verde.

Other first-round results, Brophy Prep (7-5) knocked off Arcadia (7-3), 79-58; Mesa High (10-2) defeated Tempe High (3-7), 66-48. Saturday's late games saw Chandler (8-4) top Marcos de Niza (5-6), 83-73 and Desert Ridge (6-5) beat Westview (3-10), 75-66.