PATERSON, N.J. -- It was simply a case of too little, too late for Tyreke Evans and Team Final on Sunday morning at the 2006 Playaz Spring Fling.
Evans scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, but the Playaz held on for a 69-67 victory over Team Final at Kennedy H.S.
The Playaz led by four at the half, and stretched the lead as high as seven points on several occasions in the second half.
Trailing 58-51, Evans scored 10 points in a 16-9 surge as Team Final rallied to deadlock the game at 67 apiece with 20 seconds remaining.
The Playaz tried to attack the rim and score on the other end, but needed a big hustle rebound by 6-8 junior power forward/center Rick Jackson (Syracuse) to maintain possession.
Wing Rashad Bishop was fouled inside, and he converted one of two free throws to give the Playaz a 68-67 lead.
Team Final inbounded the ball to Tyreke Evans, but he stepped out of bounds trying to avoid a pair of swarming Playaz defenders. With just one second left, Team Final fouled the Playaz's Chris Smith, who hit one of two free throws to account for the game's final margin.
Antonio Jardine (Syracuse) and the prep school bound Bishop each scored 19 points for the Playaz. Smith added 17 points and Jackson tallied eight for the winners.
While Evans came up big late for Team Final, it was actually teammate Nasir Robinson who paced the team's attack with 20 points.