The wait was worth it for the Permian Panthers.
 
In a game that finished after midnight Sunday morning, the Panthers defeated Lubbock Monterey 56-50 to with the KTBlack Services Bracket championship of the Caprock Classic at the Rip Griffin Center.
 
All-tournament selection Genuwine Powell scored a game-high 23 points, while tournament MVP Nakavieon White scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, going 5 of 6 at the free throw line in the period. Shy Stephens-Deary also scored 11 points, hitting three of Permian's four 3-pointers.
 
The game was scheduled for a 9:45 p.m. Saturday tipoff as the last of five games for the day at Lubbock Christian University's facility. With the Chaparrals playing a home afternoon game, the first of the Caprock Classic's four championship games did not start until 5 p.m.
 
Permian overcame a four-point deficit at the end of the first quarter with a 22-10 surge in the second. Powell outscored the Plainsmen by himself in the period with 12 points.
 
Monterey advanced to the championship game despite a loss in Friday's semifinal when Irving Universal withdrew from the tournament because of the threat of inclement weather on Saturday. The Plainsmen were led by Qua Butler's 21 points in the championship game.
 
The Panthers will host the Lubbock Titans on Thursday in their final tuneup before opening District 2-6A play on Jan. 11 at Wolfforth Frenship.
