Taveion Hollingsworth nailed a jumper with 3.4 seconds left to lift Paul Dunbar to a 57-56 victory over Central on Tuesday in the Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at Fairdale.
Central had a final chance but couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.
Hollingsworth hit 9 of 14 shots and finished with a game-high 25 points to lead Paul Dunbar (8-1), which was No. 3 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s preseason poll of coaches. Dontell Brown added 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs will face Evanston (Ill.) Township at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the fifth-place game.
Dai’Von Thompson had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead No. 13 Central (4-4). The Yellowjackets played without point guard Brandon Wells, who was involved in a head-to-head collision with Bullitt East’s Bailey Rakes on Monday.
CENTRAL 12 17 14 13 – 56
PAUL DUNBAR 14 18 13 12 – 57
Central (4-4) – Firman 11, Swint 11, Douglas 4, Thompson 19, Southers 7, Stephens 4.
Paul Dunbar (8-1) – Brown 14, Hollingsworth 25, Keplinger 3, Kelley 5, Gadd 3, Williams 7.
3-point goals – Firman 2, Thompson 2; Hollingsworth, Keplinger, Gadd.