It may have been just a summer exhibition, but Pinnacle and Amphitheater battled Saturday as it were playoff time in winter at the inaugural Mesa Summer Primetime boys basketball tournament.

It took an overtime shootout and final free throw by Pinnacle standout Drew Bender to net the Pioneers a 64-63 win over Amphi in the tourney's title game at Red Mountain High School.

"That was a great game," Pinnacle coach Charlie Wilde said. "Both teams went after it. We both made adjustments that helped us. It was just a great game."

Bender didn't finish with a lofty point total, but doesn't have to for Pinnacle to be successful. He tallied nine points. His floor game, particularly several pinpoint assists most players wouldn't have the mindset or ability to make, led to big baskets down the stretch.

"He also took a charge late in the game," Wilde said. "He trusts his teammates. If he gets 10 assists it's just like scoring 20 points. He does whatever it takes for us to be successful. It's just the type of kid he is."

Pinnacle, which reached the 5A-II semifinals last season, started as if it would rout Amphi. Just a few minutes were played and Pinnacle led, 15-2. Amphi coach Ben Hurley sat his team down and pressed restart and the Panthers responded by creating a 28-14 run the rest of the half to lead 30-29 at halftime. Amphi senior Tim Derksen with a little outside presence and constant slashing to the basket led the Amphi comeback. Derksen scored 13 of his 21 points in the first half.

Amphi continued its run early in the second half,  leading by as many as eight points, but Pinnacle summoned a response offensively led by Dorian Pickens and Kevin Bowman that put it back in front, 51-46, with eight minutes left. Pickens and Bowman finished with 14 points each. Bowman connected on a game-high three 3s.

Amphi rallied again taking the lead twice in the final two minutes, first on a driving layup by Tony Lillard (13 points) that made it 56-55. Bender got free at the right baseline and drained a three to put Pinnace up 58-57 with 29 seconds left.

Amphi answered with a three by Shaq Thomas (nine points)  with 11 seconds left  for Amphi's final lead at 60-58. A putback by Pickens with no time left sent the game to a free-throw shootout.

Pinnacle closed out its four games with a non-bracket contest against Desert Mountain and prevailed, 58-45, to post the only 4-0 record in the tournament. Amphi's final game was a 57-54 loss to Corona del Sol. Six teams finished 2-2 in the tournament -- Mountain Pointe, Mountain View, Desert Vista, Desert Mountain. Corona del Sol and Amphitheater. Chaparral was 0-4 for the two-day affair.