Emotions ran high as the Urban DFW Elite 17 Gold took the floor against Houston Heat 17 at the Sandra Meadows Memorial Arena in Duncanville, TX. The players brought an intensity that all teams should bring to a championship game. Both teams swept their pools and won seven consecutive games to face each other for the 8th annual Memorial Weekend Great American Shoot-Out Title.

The game almost got out of control when the Heat's Devin Gibson was fouled hard by Urban's Bobo Morgan as Gibson drove down the lane. Tempers flared, but it only made the game that much more competitive and the momentum changed hands. "He (Gibson) was getting in the lane to easy," said Jazzy Hartwell, head coach of Urban DFW Elite 17 Gold. "We weren't trying to hurt the kid, but Bobo (Morgan) committed the foul and things changed for us after that."

The players settled down and started playing basketball again, with each team exchanging buckets. With 4:04 minutes Urban took a 5 point lead (50-45) and the Heat never got closer than four points. The game was won at the free throw line by Urban connecting on 31 free throws. "Some games as a team you really need to focus on free throws and since this was a championship game, I guess they were really focused," added Hartwell.

Urban DFW Elite 17 Gold- 28

Houston Heat- 25

Urban DFW Elite 17 Gold- 60

Jeremy Smith- 14

Bobo Morgan- 5

Nate Gibb- 17

Michael Berry- 5

Corey Johnson- 2

LeMarcus Reed- 8

Brandon Anderson

Brendon Jones- 5

LJ Beck

Lenard Donnell

G Fuller

Baron Brown- 4

Houston Heat 17- 53

Jackson Kajander- 3

Romeo Garcia- 4

Devin Gibson- 19

Sei Paye- 10

Julian Olubuyi

Tim Hugele

Josh Johnson- 3

Brad Howard- 2

Luke Caldarea- 12

Chase Harris

Kyle Zwerneman

Game notes Urban hit 31 out of 38 free throws (81%). Nate Gibb (Desoto) made 11-15 from the line while Jeremy Smith (Desoto) knocked down all 10 attempts. The Heat were 13-15 from the free throw line (87%).

Urban DFW pool play (3-0)

Houston Heat 16- 41

West Texas Zags- 35

It was two different halves for the Heat, as they fell down by 15 points with 4:30 left in the game. It's usually the Heat that puts away their opponents early but the Zags from West, Texas played a steady game that involved a "Princeton" type offense. By making the extra pass it led to wide open looks under the basket. It was senior, Josh Davis (Lubbock Monterey), who led the come back with 25 points and six three pointers.

"We like to run too and put it on the floor," said Davis. "If that doesn't work, we like to ball fake and try to get something back door and play more fundamental." Within the Zags offense, it gave Davis the opportunity to carry West Texas to victory. "We try to make the extra pass to get the open look shot. I try not to stay in one place on offense, just always moving around and make the defense work."

West Texas Zags-86

Jay Reed

Cody Hill- 21

Ken Lim

Wesley Dippery- 9

Patrick McNamara- 9

Josh Davis- 25

Bryan Finch- 13

Joel Lira-

Leonard Baker- 9

Houston Heat 16-69

Cortez Page- 11

Freddie Thompson- 11

Eric Bao- 16

Austin Claunch- 3

Brandon Provost- 6

Tommie Tyler- 9

Blake Matocha- 6

Ray Holiday- 6

David Herring- 1

Eric Stuart

Jamal Lackey

Jarin Janecka

Game notes: Josh Davis, hits 3 consecutive threes to to take a 50-47 advantage. Jay Reed went 12-12 from the charity stripe. The Heat tallied nine three pointers.

Zags pool play (3-0)

It was a very patient and blue collar, Peaster Hounds that took advantage of the All 4 Sports 15 zone play late in the second half. The Hounds' junior guard, Dusty Russell broke down the zone by converting on three straight threes for his only points of the game. With minutes left to go in the game, All 4 Sports', Kerry Jones (Tyler Lee), used his quickness and athleticism to bring his team back to cut the lead to two, but it just wasn't enough as the Hounds took the Finals of the NIT, 60-58.

The Peaster Hounds are a 2A school, and summer coach Travis Hull feels it is important for his kids to play in the Great American Shoot-out. "I think it is important to play against this type of competition," said Hull. "We are a little 2A school and we get a lot out of playing the 5A type players and schools."

Tyler Hull had a game high 29 points. "The lane was open all day and I was able to get lay ups," said Hull. The biggest points of the game came from Russell who knew that he could knock it down with some room on the baseline. "They (A4S) were leaving the corner open and when Tyler [Hull], and Mark [Barret] penetrated they looked to pitch.

Game Note Dusty Russell hits key three pointers during a two minute stretch.

Hounds pool play (2-1)

Peaster Hounds- 26

All 4 Sports 15- 21

Tyler Hull- 29

Dusty Russell- 9

Mark Barret- 7

Taylor Bennett- 3

Glen Burt- 5

Flint Ellis- 2

Kyle Spitzer- 3

Josiah Landrum

Mitch Montgomery

Kerry Jones- 15

Thad Ogungbre- 9

Brandon Chatman- 12

Jake Miller- 2

Roman Blackmon- 4

Chad Arceneaux- 8

Jordan Brantley- 2

Murrian Sias- 6

Johnny

Courtney Thomas

Marcus Irving

Gorran Anthony