The sun has set on another AAU tournament and what a championship Sunday it was at the Jayhawk Invitational.

What was looking to be a collision course between Howard Pulley and KC Run GMC in the 17u finals was spoiled by a team out of Nebraska. But first, let’s get to the beginning of the day.

Howard Pulley played their quarterfinals and semifinals matchups with ferocity and intensity. Their first game was against the Kansas Rockets. This game was not much of a contest as the Panthers pulled out to a huge lead to start the game. The ball was evenly distributed as Gary Trent Jr. had 9 points, Tre Jones had 4 and Gabriel Kalscheur had 3. The final score was 61-34 as Howard Pulley enforced another mercy ruling. Their next game, not so easy.

Pulley had to go against Team Rush in the semifinal bout. Team Rush boasted some athletes and a crowd to keep the momentum high. Little did Rush know, Howard Pulley’s fans travel well. The first half was back and forth as Pulley managed a 38-37 lead at halftime. Come the second half, enter top-scouted recruit, Gary Trent Jr. Trent ended the game with 28 points as Pulley earned a 73-53 victory (another mercy ruling). More from the stat line, Tre Jones had 13 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Daniel Oturu had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Howard Pulley earned their spot in the 17u Jayhawk Invitational Championship.

KC Run GMC, the hometown favorites to win the tournament, coasted through pool play and their opening bracket game with ease. In the quarterfinals, KC Run GMC faced another Kansas City squad, Team KC (Jackson). Run GMC had another easy victory over Team KC. 

Up next, Run GMC went against TNE in the semifinals. TNE, one of the better teams out of Nebraska was looking to play spoiler in this tournament. TNE shot out to an early 12-point lead and held on to it until halftime where the score was 32-27. This game had all the makings of a classic. TNE shot out the second half like a cannon, extending their lead to 12 but Coach Goolsby and his squad had other plans. Run GMC fought back to cut the deficit to six with under four minutes to go. That’s when chaos reigned supreme. After a questionable, TNE favorable timeout call to avoid a 10-second violation, Goolsby argued with the ref. Immediately Goolsby was awarded his second technical, his first came after disputing a non-foul call. By the rules, Coach Goolsby was ejected from the game. This lead to two more technical fouls on the Run GMC in the seconds that followed and the TNE lead jumped back out to 12. TNE ended GMC’s run and earned a spot in the finals.

In the Jayhawk Invitational 17u finals, TNE fought against the best team in the Nike EYBL, Howard Pulley. No matter what TNE through at the Minnesota squad, the Panthers came roaring back. Behind a unified team effort, Howard Pulley ended winning convincingly to take home the Jayhawk Invitational Championship.

Howard Pulley is currently undefeated this AAU season.

You watch these games and more from the Jayhawk Invitational on FloHoops.