Pinecrest overcame a sputtering start Monday night to defeat Trinity Christian 74-64 and advance to tonight's 7:30 p.m. Holiday in the Pines boys' basketball tournament championship game.

The Patriots (11-0) will defend their 2007 title againsta Wakefield squad (8-4) that defeated Richmond Senior 56-42 earlier in the evening. Both teams are making their third appearance in the title game. The Wolverines beat Trinity Christian to win the tournament in 2006.

Trinity guard Anthony Papillion stole the ball the first four times Pinecrest advanced the ball into its forecourt. By midway through the first period, the Patriots had turned the ball over seven times and trailed 10-2.

Cedrick Threadgill came off the bench to steady the Patriot ship with four points in a row. The Pats took their first lead at 15-14 on a basket by Evan Cole in the opening minute of the second quarter. But sparked by Papillion's 10 points and seven steals the Crusaders led 35-28 at the intermission.

An old-fashioned three-point play by Cole got the home team off to a good start in the third quarter. Moments later, another one of that variety by Josh Scales tied the game at 36-36. As the quarter wound down, Threadgill made two at the line, and then stole the ball and fed Tony Allbrooks for a three that put the Pats ahead 53-50.

The two teams traded points until the three-minute mark of the final period. Then a pair of free throws by Jarrin Wooten, and basket by Scales off a slick pass from Blake Smith, gave the Patriots their biggest lead of the game at 67-60. Allbrooks made six free throws in a row at one point down the stretch to nip any Crusader comeback hopes.

Scales led the Patriots in scoring with 16 points. Wooten added 12 to go with 11 rebounds. Threadgill was also in double figures with 11.

Trinity Christian, now 13-4, was led by Papillion with 18. The Crusaders' 6-foot-9 center Demontre Harris fouled out after scoring 12 points andrecording 12 boards.

Wakefield took command early against Richmond (4-8), building a 30-17 lead by halftime. Antonio Stabler led the winners with 16 points. Also in double figures were Keith Armstrong with 11 and Darius Leonard with 10. Scooter McDonald topped the Raiders with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

In the first of two afternoon consolation bracket games, Overhills defeated Durham Academy 66-44 behind 18 points from Miguel Harrison. Then Holly Springs outscored West Montgomery 28-3 in the third quarter on the way to a 79-49 victory. Marquedis Pratt scored a game-high 21 points for West Montgomery. Terrence Walker led the winners with 19.

In Tuesday's consolation contests, Durham Academy and West Montgomery meet at 2 p.m., it's Holly Springs and Overhills at 3:30, and Richmond takes on Trinity Christian for third place at 6 p.m.