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The Nike Memorial Day Classic is a first year tournament. If it's debut is any indication of future editions then fans won't want to miss this tournament anytime soon.

In the 16 year old Championship game 5-0 Howard Pulley faced 5-0 Team Indiana Red. Dan Coleman's 19 points and 8 rebounds led Howard Pulley who held the lead for a majority of the second half. Indiana Red had the crowd's support but it didn't seem that would be enough when they looked up at the scoreboard to see a 64-58 deficit with a minute left on the clock.

Indiana's press forced a steal and lay-up that cut the score to 64-60. Indiana kept up the pressure trapping the ball as soon as it crossed half-court. The trap forced a back court violation by Howard Pulley. On the ensueing posession Matt Piat pulled from 25 feet and hit NOTHING BUT THE BOTTOM OF THE NET sending the crowd into a frenzy. The 3 cut the lead to 64-63 with just 20 seconds left on the clock. Indiana fouled Howard Pulley and sent them to the line to shoot a 1 and 1 with 9 seconds left. Howard Pulley failed to convert the free throw and Piat pulled down the rebound and quickly pushed it up the floor. Piatt drove the middle and found Sonny Troutman streaking down the right side of the lane. Troutman finished the break with a lay-up giving Indiana the lead 65-64 with only 1.9 seconds on the clock. Howard Pulley's 40 foot game winning attempt rimmed out and Indiana Red celebrated their dramatic championship win.

The 17 & Under title game had a lot to live up to but with two great teams like Boo Williams and Riverside Church set to do battle they certainly had a great chance to satisfy the Bloomington crowd. Riverside jumped out to a quick 16 point lead at 30-14 midway through the first half. By half-time Boo had cut the lead to 10 at 40-30.

After regrouping at half-time Boo Williams team came out with a flurry in the second half starting on a 14-4 run tying the game at 44 with 10 minutes left in the game. Point guard John Gilchrist took over the flow of the game scoring from every which way possible. Robert Strickland and Elton Brown both had big time dunks and Boo looked to be on their way to victory when they took the lead 57-53 with 4 minutes left.

But Riverside didn't come this far to roll over when it got to crunch time. Keydren Clark hit a jumper and then got a steal that Richard Soliver eventually converted for two points tying the game at 57 with 2 minutes on the clock. The big man in the middle Elton Brown countered with a 3 point play making the score 60-57. Riverside countered with 4 straight points and they suddenly had a 61-60 lead with 50 seconds left on the clock. Gilchrist handled the Riverside pressure and found Brown standing all alone on the other side of the court. Brown jammed it home and Boo Williams team had grabbed the lead back 62-61 with 45 ticks remaining. Riverside called time-out to set up a play with 25 left. After a Riverside miss the ball carromed off of two Boo Williams players out of bounds giving Riverside new life with 15 seconds left. The inbounds pass came to Keydren Clark who dribbled to the right wing, put a little shake on his defender, spun towards the hoop and with ice water in his veins drilled the 15 footer with under 5 seconds on the clock.

Boo Williams called time-out to set up a desperation attempt. The play was almost performed to perfection. The inbound pass came into the back court, it was then swiftly passed up to a streaking John Gilchrist who caught the ball took a dribble and launched a shot from just beyond the top of the key. The way Gilchrist's day had been going not a person in the gym didn't expect it to fall. A funny thing happened this time around...it didn't fall. The jumper went in and out, falling to the floor bringing with it the hopes of Boo Williams team. The Riverside faithful went into celebration mode after their hard fought 63-62 win.