In requesting Class 7A No. 1 ranked Blanche Ely as its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boys’ Basketball Classic opponent, Class 8A No. 1-ranked Miami High provided all the bulletin board material Ely needed to fuel a 61-58 victory at Miami Norland High School on Saturday night.

A cross-county rivalry that has been simmering since last Summer added its latest chapter with Ely (17-2) feeling they were called out by the Stingarees (14-4).

“There was a situation where Miami High wanted to play us so of course I granted the wish,’’ Ely three-time state champion coach Melvin Randall said. “There was a misunderstanding about us not playing Norland. I want to keep the record straight. Norland is an excellent team but when Miami High called us out, that is who I wanted to challenge.”

Ely (17-2) appeared well on its’ way to a double-digit victory after opening a 50-39 lead at the end of the third quarter but needed Tournament MVP Derek Walker, a 6-7 senior forward , who scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half and added eight re bounds, to avert a fourth quarter collapse.

“There was alot of talk that Miami High would beat us and that we weren’t any competition,’’ Walker said. “We had a point to prove. These hard games will keep us hungry and humble. As long as we do that, we will be at our best.”

Kimbrel Dervil and Allen Baez tied for a team-high 11 points for the Stingarees. Adriel Jimenez and Jeffery Thomas added 10 points each.

Ely 6-6 forward Clide Geffrard was starting to assert himself inside with 14 points and six rebounds before an eye injury left Walker to pick up the slack in the pivotal fourth quarter. Walker put the Tigers up 56-41 with a layup but the Stingarees brought a partisan crowd to life with a 9-0 run that cut the deficit to 56-50 with 1:48 left.

A steal by Jorge Milo led to a layup by Willie Walker, Ely’s Anterio Smith blew a point blank shot but Derek Walker converted a pair of free throws for a 58-52 lead. But Adriel Jimenez kept the rally alive with a three-pointer in front of the Miami High bench to draw the Stingarees within 58-55 with 25 seconds left.

Ely guard Krishaun Myers, who finished with 16 points, including 11 in the second half, followed with a pair of free throws before Allen Baez hit a deep three-pointer from the left wing to get the Stingarees within 60-58 with 7.5 seconds left.

Ely (17-2): K. Thomas 2, Cameron 5, Myers 16, Geffrard 14, Bell 8, D. Walker 14, Allen 2. Miami (14-4): Jimenez 10, Thompkins 2, Milo 8, W. Walker 6, Dervil 11, Baez 11, J. Thomas 10. Half: Blanche Ely 33-23. Three-pointers: Myers 1, Bell 1, Jimenez 2, Milo 1, Dervil 1, Baez 1. Rebounds: Walker 8. K. Thomas 8. Geffrard 6. Bell 6. Assists: Myers 3.