It was a hot summer late afternoon in Fort Mill, South Carolina on Saturday. Temperature outside at tip off was 89 degrees as PrimeTime Players met Fayetteville Crossover in the 2016 East Coast Basketball League championship.

These two teams have become familiar with each other over the past few years, including a championship showdown in 2015. That game was also played at the PrimeTime Players home of Bank Street Gym, which has a seating capacity of just 500. PrimeTime won that first-ever ECBL title over Fayetteville and was looking for more while the Crossover were seeking some revenge and their first league championship.

The home team got off to a tremendous start taking a quick 10-0 lead. It was 2:20 into the quarter before Fayetteville got on the scoreboard, a three-pointer by Billy McDade. The shots kept falling for PTP, who led after one quarter 34-19. By halftime that margin grew to a 32-point lead, 75-43.

Staring at a 32-point deficit Crossover Head Coach Alonzo Lunsford has his team ready. Fayetteville put up 37 points on the scoreboard to cut the lead to 95-80 at the end of the third quarter.

The two teams exchanged small runs of play in the fourth quarter as Fayetteville got within 11 with 7:19 remaining to play after a pair of free throws by McDade made the score 100-89. PrimeTime would score the next six to take command again and didn’t look back. Final score: PrimeTime Players 119, Fayetteville Crossover 100.

Terrell Smith was named MVP after scoring a team-high 37 points. In two previous playoff games Smith scored 22 points (vs Carolina Crusaders) and 35 points (vs South Carolina All Stars) in the South Division championship game.

This was the fifth minor league championship won by PrimeTime Players. Back-to-back ECBL championships were preceded by three-straight TRBL titles.

PrimeTime Players will next be competing in The Basketball Tournament, a $2 million winner-take-all knockout tourney. Fans can follow their progress here.