The Atmore Christian School Rams needed a last-chance putback to beat Ezekiel Academy, 54-52, Friday night in Montgomery.

“It was kind of a fun way to win the game,” coach Tim Battles said.

The final shot came as the last 40 seconds began to tick off the clock. Battles said due to the position of the game clock, which wasn’t visible for the players, he told his point guard Joseph Ferrell to hold the ball until he gave a signal.

On the signal, Ferrell drove the ball down the floor, but was stopped by two Ezekiel defenders. He pulled the ball back and started his drive again, this time darting past the defense and into the lane.

He passed the ball to the wing, but Wesley Hostetler missed the long-range shot. Ethan Heller crashed the boards and laid the ball in, right as time expired.

Heller finished the night with 27 points, Ferrell added 12 and Christian Scott had five.

“We played very poorly at the start and got down 7-0 early,” Battles said.

ACS then led 19-17 with about two minutes left before half, but allowed Ezekiel to come back because of sloppy play, Battles said.

“It was up and down,” he said. “We trailed by 11 at two different points in the second half; once in the third quarter and once in the fourth.”

The Rams were down nine points with six minutes left before Scott fouled out, leaving the team without one of its starters.

Battles said the Rams tied it up at 52 before the final moments were played out.

The win moves the Rams to 1-0 on the season. A previous game against Escambia Academy was moved to next month, due to football.

ACS will be in action Thursday as the Rams begin a tournament at West Florida High School in Milton.