Schaumburg, Palatine, Barrington and Libertyville hosted 190 basketball teams from seven states at the Midwest Invitational Jan. 2-3. Although none of the towns had winning teams, the experience was a win for organizers.

"The tournament went extremely well," tournament director Ray Glassman said. "The Northwest Youth Sports Association will definitely be holding the 6th annual Midwest Invitational again next year. It brings together the best basketball teams in the Midwest for a weekend of great competition."

The 190 teams played over 400 games in 36 hours at four different locations, said Glassman. who also helps coach Palatine-based basketball team, the Illinois Crusaders. The tournament holds championship play for 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade feeder, travel, club and Amateur Athletic Union teams.

In the 8th grade boys championship game, Chicago Ferrari, which draws from Chicago, Rosemont and northwestern Indiana, defeated Rising Stars Gold, of Chicago, 54-40.

"I'm never surprised to win a championship," Chicago Ferrari coach Dan McMillan said. "I've been doing this for five years and we've been able to put together very good teams with a lot of nationally ranked kids. So while we're never surprised, I'm always nervous in every tournament ,cause you don't want to get overconfident."

In the girl's 8th grade championship, Chicago Hoops Express defeated Wisconsin Playground Elite, out of Milwaukee, 51-42.

Although the Playground Elite lost the 8th grade championship, they walked away with several titles in different age groups.

Wisconsin Playground Elite teams were the 5th, 6th and 7th grade boys champions and the 7th grade girls champions.

"The team play was really good," Wisconsin Playground Elite coach Jeff Smith said. "We're a very good program and we have some very talented players. It's indicative of previous tournaments we did."

Like McMillan, Smith said he's never really surprised when his teams do well. However, some results were unexpected.

"I was a little surprised," Smith said. "We're a program that's really expected to be in the final four but it was a surprise we won as many age groups as we did."

Smith added that the 6th grade girls game between the Playground Elite and the Bumblebees was particularly fun to watch, as well as the 7th grade girls championship game against the Illinois Basketball Academy.

"I thought the championships for all the age groups were pretty entertaining," Smith said. "All the games were competitive. There weren't large margins of victory. We come from out of town to play good personell and talent."

Chicago Hoops Express coach Jerald Davis, whose 8th and 5th grade girls teams won championships, agreed  that the quality of play was high.

"At the junior high level and 8th grade down, this is the most competitive event all winter through the spring," Davis said. "Until you start the true AAU season, this is probably the most high-end tournament."

But the tournament wasn't just about basketball. In honor of a Fremd High School student Will Kelley, who was diagnosed with t-cell—acute lymphoblastic leukemia in June 2009, the tournament also raised a significant amount of money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Money was raised through the sale of "Will Power!" bracelets.

Glassman said he may have to expand the tournament to 250 teams in 2011.

"It seems to get more and more popular every year," he said.

For more information on the Midwest Invitational, go to www.bluechiptournaments.com.

For more information on Kelley, or to follow his journey, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/willkelley.

—By Michelle Stoffel, Triblocal.com reporter

Results

Gold "A" Champions – “Best of the Best”

8th Boys – Chicago Ferrari (defeated Rising Stars Gold)

7th Boys – Wisconsin Playground (defeated Indiana Thunder)

6th Boys – Wisconsin Playground (defeated Michael Finley Bumble Bees)

5th Boys – Wisconsin Playground (defeated Ferrari)

4th Boys – Illinois Raptors Purple (defeated Illinois Raptors White)

8th Girls – Chicago Hoops Express (defeated Wisconsin Playground)

7th Girls – Wisconsin Playground (defeated Illinois Basketball Academy-IBA)

6th Girls – MBA Select (defeated Rising Stars Gold)

5th Girls – Hoops Express Flash (defeated Arlington Cardinals)

Silver "A" Champions

8th Boys – Grand Rapids Storm

7th Boys – Wauwatosa Raiders

4th Boys – MBA Select

7th Girls – Hoops Express Flash

6th Girls – Illinois Raptors White

Bronze "A" Champions

8th Boys – Illinois Speed Celtics

7th Boys – Rising Stars Gold

4th Boys – IL Speed Magic

6th Girls – Bolingbrook

Boys "B" Champions

8th Boys – Hinsdale Inferno

7th Boys – Bloomingdale

6th Boys – Carol Stream Panthers

5th Boys – Mt. Prospect Knights

Girls "B" Champions

8th Girls – Lady Jets

7th Girls – Elmhurst Airborne Green