The sides weren't even but thanks to Rockdale's David Jelks, the series now is.

The top senior basketball players from Newton and Rockdale shared the court at Alcovy Wednesday in the third edition of the Rockdale County vs. Newton County Senior All Star game for a 3-point contest, slam dunk contest and a game. Rockdale, which had just six players, defeated Newton 118-107 behind a game-high 27 points from MVP David Jelks.

Newton, which suited up 11 on Wednesday, won the inaugural game three years ago 113-88 before the two teams tied 80-80 in 2011.

The two teams went back and forth early in the first half before Newton pulled away with the help of its guards penetrating in the lane off the dribble.

Newton High's Stephen Croone led the way with 27 points and his teammate Justin Thompson added 20. Alcovy's Devin Gerald chipped in 17 points.

Rockdale fought back in the second half after switching to a zone defense to stop Newton's dribble-drive penetration. On the offensive end, Rockdale continued to go inside on the smaller Newton team, which remained in a man-on-man defense.

That's where Jelks earned his MVP. The Rockdale senior delivered a bevy of layups and close-range jump shots on the smaller Newton team.

Travis Wildgoose of Rockdale High, who won the slam dunk contest, added 23 points and his teammate Charles Moore, who won the 3-point contest, scored 26 points, six on 3's.

Wildgoose picked up the win in the slam dunk contest with two spectacular slams in the final round. He began with a windmill jam before doing a cartwheel and back flip on his run up for an alley-oop slam dunk that ended the contest.