The return of MLK basketball to the Valley after a five-year absence - dubbed by organizer Marc Beasley the MLK Dream Classic - went like clockwork Monday at Tempe High.

The teams with the higher power-rankings made sure there were no upsets. 

No. 1 Hamilton boys, No. 2 Desert Vista boys, No. 9 Cesar Chavez boys and higher ranked 5A McClintock boys took care of business. Some handily, some with a bit of tension.

The girls games - two - went to 4A #4 Saguaro and 6A No. 1 Pinnacle, which had to sweat out a victory. 

Here's a rundown of the six games played on Monday:

BOYS

HAMILTON 65, MOUNTAIN POINTE 57: The Huskies (14-3 overall, 11-0 power-ranking games) used a big second half from senior Jamar Brown to remain unbeaten in power-ranking games and hold off the Pride. Brown scored 14 of his 16 points after intermission. Brown seems to be clicking after getting off to a late start due to the length of Hamilton's football season. 

Teammate Andrew Hinkle helped Hamilton secure a first-half lead with 10 of his 12 points in the opening two periods. Jason Kimbrough (15 points) and TJ Tigler (14) were the top scorers for Mountain Pointe (9-8, 5-7). 

DESERT VISTA 83, RED MOUNTAIN 53: The Thunder (17-2, 10-1) saw the Mountain Lions (4-17, 4-8) hang around until late in the third period before finishing up with a storm.

Desert Vista sophomore guard Desean Lecque tallied 19 points, mixing in a couple of threes. Senior forware Osasere Ighodaro was next with 18 points and frustrated Red Mountain in the paint about a half-dozen blocks. Junior forward John Soloman had the hot hand in the first half with 10 of his 12 points. Red Mountain's Kyle Waters shared game-high scoring honors with 19 points, including four treys.

CESAR CHAVEZ 73, CORONA DEL SOL 67: The Champions (15-5, 8-2) had the comeback of the day, battling back from 10 down at halftime to top the Aztecs (12-7, 6-5). The loss was the forurth in a row for Corona, which has played the last three-plus games without senior standout Anthony Irvin. Irvin tore his ACL in a loss to Desert Ridge on Jan. 10. Irvin is out for the season. 

A balanced effort from Chavez was the formula. Five players checked in with between nine and 19 points - Nyjeir Andrews (19), Tru Washington (13), Latrey Robinson (10) and Tyraill Carrrethers and Ravion Hodge (9 apiece). The Champions trailed 38-28 at hafltime, but evened the game after three quarters at 53.

Corona was balanced as well and got a game-high 24 points from Eric Blackwell. Blackwell made four long threes in the opening period, but didn't hit again from long range until the final seconds.  Brandon Lee (13), Demarco Smith (11) and Quinn Thorne (10) were the other Aztecs in double figures.

MCCLINTOCK 64, TEMPE 55: Chance Garland ignited a run that began as the third period ended and fourth began helping the Chargers (10-9, 7-4) rally past the Buffaloes (4-13, 3-8).

Garland blocked a layup and ended up getting the ball back and racing to the basket at the other end for a dunk that put McClintock up for good, 44-43. A 16-5 Chargers' run through the final two-plus minutes sealed the win for McClintock.

Sophomore Jaylen Wesley led McClintock and all scorers with 21 points. Garland finished with 13 points, PJ Volz had 10 and Darius Ward nine. Tempe was sparked by Cameron Snyder with 19 points, but Snyder went scoreless in the final period. Nathan Robinson added nine points, making three threes. Two came in the third period when Tempe managed to lead most of the quarter.

GIRLS

PINNACLE 58, MOUNTAIN POINTE 54: The Pioneers (14-5, 10-0) leaned more than usual on 6-foot-6 post Kennedy Basham and the sophomore responded with 27 points in edging the Pride (9-5, 7-4) in a battle of 6A region leaders. Pinnacle leads the Desert Valley Region and Mountain Pointe the Central after a handful of region games.

Basham's huge game was needed as leading scorer - junior Ally Stedman -- was on the bench with a back injury. Pinnacle also was without head coach Rick Bunger, who was at the gym early, but left for a doctor's visit. Assistant Troy Wiese stepped in for Bunger.

Basham scored eight of her points in the fourth quarter. She made all six of her free throws in the quarter - the last two with 12 seconds left to wrap up the win. Junior guard Shay Figueroa followed Basham with  16 points giving the Pioneers offense from the perimeter with four threes. 

Sophomore Kishyah Anderson led Mountain Pointe with 17 points and junior Faith Diggs had 11. 

SAGUARO 83, MARCOS DE NIZA 23: The Sabercats (14-5, 10-2) shook off a road loss Saturday in Flagstaff and topped the Padres (4-13, 0-11) in a 4A Desert Sky matchup that opened up the day's competition.

Saguaro used a 29-6 edge after one quarter to get back on track. Senior guard Amayah Kirkman, a transfer from Washington state, continued to spark the Saberats. Kirkman totaled 13 of her game-high 23 points in the first period. Senior Tranety Perkins added 20 points and Jaya Huma chipped in with 13. Tamara Rivera and Ariana Chiago led Marcos de Niza with six points each.