Making free throws is always critical from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Gilbert High was the victor in that department Tuesday night and it helped the Tigers defeat host McClintock at its Holiday Shootout.

Gilbert sank 6 of 6 free throws in the final minute and 11 of 12 in the fourth quarter allowing the Tigers to rally past McClintock, 77-74.

Gilbert (13-2) trailed 59-55 heading to the final period. They gradually pecked away at the four-point deficit and took the lead for good, 71-70 with 2:28 to play as the Tigers Nikko Pentelute made one of two free throws. McClintock's PJ Volz missed two free throws with 1:10 to go, but Gilbert responded with four free throws off the bench from Isaiah Bronson sandwiched around two by Pentelute.

Bronson's last two tosses pushed Gilbert's advantage to 77-74 with 10.9 seconds left. McClintock managed to attempt two, three-point shots (one each by Jaylen Wesley and EJ Scroggins) on its final possession. Neither was on the mark. Game totals from the free-throw line - Gilbert 15 of 19 and McClintock 10 of 20.

Gilbert had four starters scored in double figures - Pentelute 21, Reed Shuey 20, KJ Perry 19 and Shade Kerr 11. McClintock was led by Wesley (24 points), Scroggins (20 points) and Davion Butler (14 points).

Gilbert advances to Wednesday's semifinals to face Apollo, which advanced after its Tuesday opponent Mountain Pointe withdrew from the tourney. One of Gilbert's two losses this season was to Apollo two weeks ago. That game is set for 5:30 p.m. The other semifinal is at 7 p.m. matching Hamilton and Ironwood.

Hamilton advanced with a 53-44 win over Desert Mountain and Ironwood got past Highland, 61-55. Hamilton's Quincy Adams scored a team-high 17 points. Aaron Foote added 11, sinking 3 of 4 threes. Michael DeHorney rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Huskies with 10 points. Desert Mountain's Easton Reagan tallied a game-high 22 points. Ironwood was paced by Ringo Aguet's 14 points and 12 from Jordan Kuac. Highland's AJ Riggs connected for a game-high 23 points.

Hamilton's Quincy Adams (1) attacks the basket against Desert Mountain defenders. (Azpreps365 photo)