George Rogers Clark hosted the MLK Classic Saturday which saw six basketball games from some of the best teams from around the state.

Clark County’s boys and girls teams finished the day with games against Bishop Brossart and Breathitt County, and the tournament saved the best games for last.

The Lady Cardinals’ game against the Lady ‘Stangs of Bishop Brossart was a matchup of two of the 10th Region’s best teams. GRC is the three-time defending champs of the 10th Region while the Lady ‘Stangs have the best record in the region, entering the game at 17-1.

GRC started the game off hot defensively, holding the 10th Region’s best offense to 14 points in the first quarter. Bishop Brossart also has the region’s best defense, but the Lady Cards were able to outscore them in the first quarter, picking up 16 points.

Bishop Brossart’s defense stepped up in the second quarter as they kept GRC from making a field goal for the first seven minutes of the quarter, putting the Lady ‘Stangs up 28-22 at halftime.

GRC wasn’t able to cut into the lead after an evenly-matched third quarter and remained at a six-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.

After three minutes in the game’s final period, Bishop Brossart had extended their lead to 12 points, the largest lead of the game for either team.

The Lady Cardinals then stepped up, scoring seven straight points to get within five points over halfway through the quarter.

GRC sent the Lady ‘Stangs to the free-throw line several times down the stretch, but Brossart’s 11 made free throws in the fourth quarter kept GRC from taking the lead.

Kennedy Igo hit a 3-pointer with less than a minute to play to cut the Cards’ deficit to four points but GRC was forced to take their last timeout after the shot.

After a pair of missed free throws from the Lady ‘Stangs, GRC cut the lead to two with 14 seconds to play.

But Bishop Brossart would then make their final two free throws of the game, pushing the lead back to a two-possession game in the final seconds.

GRC’s Ciara Byars hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to cut it to a one-point game, but the clock hit zero to give the Lady ‘Stangs a 55-54 win over GRC.

The boys then took part in the final game of the MLK Classic in a matchup with Breathitt County.

GRC was able to jump out to an early lead behind Lincoln Bush who scored, rebounded and blocked shots well for the Cards.

The Cards led by as many as seven points in the second quarter, but Breathitt closed the first half on a 9-3 run to make it a three-point game by halftime.

The Cards led 29-26 entering the second half, but the scored changed hands several times in the third quarter.

KJ Rucker foreshadowed what he would do at the end of the game by hitting a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to give GRC a two-point lead entering the final period.

GRC had a couple of runs that looked like would put the game out of reach down the stretch but had two technical fouls called on them to flip momentum.

Trailing by three points with enough time for one more shot in regulation, GRC head coach Josh Cook decided not to run any sets.

“I just let them play,” Cook said. “At that point, I’ve got confidence in him. If he makes it I’ll support him and if he misses it I’ll support him.”

Rucker missed what would’ve been the game-tying shot at the buzzer, but was fouled in the process, sending him to the free-throw line with 0.3 seconds on the clock.

Needing all three shots to fall to force overtime, Rucker stepped up and hit the first two before Breathitt County called their final timeout trying to ice him.

Stepping back up to the line, Rucker made the third shot to tie the game and force overtime.

The teams were still evenly matched in the extra period. Clark County got the ball for another chance at the final shot of the game.

Rucker, with the ball in his hands again, stepped up for the Cardinals and made a 3-pointer to give GRC the win.

“I knew I was going to make them because my teammates were counting on me, so I couldn’t let them down,” Rucker said. “It was my first career buzzer-beater. It felt amazing, everyone was cheering and it got my team the win.”

The two teams will be back in action with a district doubleheader Tuesday night as they host Bourbon County. The girls game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip and the boys game will follow.