MOULTRIE — Twelve days ago, the Colquitt County boys basketball team lost to Dougherty 73-70 in its first game of the U-Save-It Holiday Classic in Albany to fall to 0-5 on the season.

The loss also extended the Packers losing streak to 19 games, dating back to January of 2008.

But that streak was given a proper burial at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium on Wednesday when the Packers defeated Mt. Zion High of Jonesboro 44-40 to win the third annual Packer Roundball Classic and take a five-game winning streak into 2009.

The Packers won their final two games in the tournament in Albany, then won all three games in the tournament on their home court.

Friday’s victory was not a thing of beauty, but no one in black-and-gold is complaining.

The Packers led by 15 at the half before the Jarrell King hit five 3-pointers to bring Mt. Zion back into the game.

The Bulldogs tied the game at 32-32 on a basket by Karon Hodge 41 seconds into the fourth quarter, but were never able to wrestle a lead away from the Packers.

Brian Berl hit a jumper a minute later and sank a 3-pointer with 5:50 left in the game to give the Packers some cushion.

Colquitt missed six straight free throws in the closing minute, making the game closer than it needed to be.

But Coach Kirven Davis could hardly be more pleased with his team.

“I’m proud of them,” he said of his team, now 5-5. “It shows a lot of character.

“There was a little fatigue out there, but we’ve had back-to-back tough games. We didn’t play our best, but we’re still hanging in there.”

The Packers open Region 1-AAAAA play on Friday at Coffee then return home to meet undefeated and high-scoring Valdosta on Tuesday.

“We’ve just got to keep fighting,” Davis said. “That’s what we play these tournaments for, to get ready for the region.”

Berl picked up the slack offensively for the Packers, scoring 12 points, including seven in the fourth quarter.