Courtesy of impressive defensive efforts, Kingsford won a pair of boys basketball games over the weekend to capture the Elk Rapids Ray Graham Basketball Invitational championship for the second straight year.

On Friday, the Flivvers roared back from a 19-6 deficit after the first quarter to knock off Traverse City St. Francis 51-40. Kingsford trailed 34-25 late in the third quarter but held the Gladiators to four points in the fourth to pull out the win.

“It was a physical game and a good first-game test,” Kingsford coach Ben Olsen said.

Jett Buckley led the Flivvers in scoring with 13 points, while Owen Olkkonen finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Jack Kriegl and Gaige Sorenson posted 12 points each and Matthew Sundquist grabbed 10 rebounds and scored two points.

Reef Wichern led TCSF (2-1) with 12 points.

In the championship game Saturday, the Flivvers battled back and forth in the early going with host Elk Rapids before taking a 27-22 lead into the halftime break.

Then the Kingsford defense locked down again, surrendering just 13 points in the second half to record a 56-35 triumph over the Elks (2-1).

“Again, defense was the catalyst,” Olsen said.

Olkkonen topped the Flivvers with 17 points and four rebounds, to go with 16 points from Buckley, seven points and six rebounds from Sorenson and three points and five assists from Kriegl.

Jayden Hresko paced Elk Rapids with 10 points.

The Flivvers were slated to face Westwood (3-0) on Monday night and will visit Negaunee on Thursday.