Leadership Academy held off UPrep, 80-78 in the first round of the Mike Dianetti Tournament at Aquinas.

Na'Zea Fowlks followed a shot with a dunk to force overtime for UPrep after the Lions (8-0) held the lead for most of the game.

Leadership opened up a double-digit lead in the first half, highlighted by a Kennyh Hardeman dunk as time was winding down in the first half. But Melvin Council, Jr got a steal and threw down a dunk before the buzzer to get the momentum back.

Council led all scorers with 35 points for UPrep (5-2). Kayshawn Ross added 17 and Fowlks 12.

Hardeman scored 24 points and added 17 boards. Shamir McCullough added 20 points and Maurice McKinney scored 16 points and dished out seven assists.

Leadership faces host Aquinas in the final. Jack Bleier hit a running lay-up with one second left to lift the Irish over Webster Schroeder, 57-55.