And Phillips, too.

Jackson Overbeck hit a free throw with 1.8 seconds left in overtime Thursday to lift Culbreth's boys basketball team to a 39-38 victory over Smith. The win left the Cougars with a final record of 10-3 and holding the boys' championship trophy of the inaugural Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools middle school basketball tournament, hosted by Phillips Middle School.

"For me as a coach, this is the most rewarding year I've ever had, and not just because of the wins and losses," Culbreth's Jon Evans said. "These were good kids, who wanted to be good.

"Their average GPA was 3.7. Every day they came and busted their tails, in the class room and practice and taking care of each other as friends. For me as a coach, to watch these young men grow and succeed in a game like this was one of the most rewarding things in my life."

Phillips won the girls' championship with a 32-21 win on Wednesday over Culbreth. Ali Cyr-Scully scored 23 points to lead the Falcons, who completed a perfect 13-0 year with two wins in the tournament.

"As a team working together, with their success and their work ethic, this is hands down the best team I've ever coached," said Phillips coach Mike Harris, calling the Falcons "a group of fierce competitors."

Cyr-Scully averaged 19 points per game this season and also worked as the team's top defender, Harris said. He also cited the play of "lightning fast" Brynn Donnelly at point guard, noting she had less than 10 turnovers total for the entire season. "She was the glue for the entire team," he said.

Wednesday's win capped the fifth championship season for the Phillips girls since 2000, their most recent Orange-Person Athletic Conference title before this coming in 2006.

The local boys' teams had split their OPAC meetings, and the post-season tournament at Phillips Middle School served as a tie-breaker.

In Thursday's final, center Andrew Montross led Culbreth's scoring with 12 points, 10 coming after halftime. Overbeck added nine and Max Feldman eight for the Cougars.

Smith(9-4) got a game high 16 points from Jacob Thomas and 13 from Albert Nyamaryo.

The Cyclones held a 30-21 lead after a basket by Thomas with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter. Culbreth fought back with six points from Montross and four from Feldman in the closing minutes, and regulation ended tied at 34-34.

"We weren't worried when we were down in the second half," Overbeck said. "Our coach (Evans) told us, 'We've been through this situation before. We've practiced for this. Just keep your composure, and we're going to come out of this with the win.'"

Neither team led by more than one possession in the frantic, fast-paced 3-minute overtime. Smith led for the last time at 38-36 on a shot from the lane by DeCory Roberson with 55 seconds left. Montross tied it 11 seconds later on a follow of his own miss.

Overbeck stole Smith's last inbounds pass near mid-court and eventually drew a foul. Shaking off any nerves, he went to the foul line and sank the first of two free throws. Culbreth's Kobe Andrade got the rebound of Overbeck's missed second shot, and time expired 1 second later.

The win meant more to Overbeck and Montross than just a trophy. They're teammates on the Chapel Hill Bulldogs AAU team with Smith's Roberson, Nyamaryo and Thomas.

"This is important," Overbeck said. "We have practice on Saturday, and there will definitely be some talk about this."