Crowds of supporters streamed into the arena early for these 8pm clashes, and they came loaded in team gear and in full voice. Perhaps as at no other Games venue, the supporters, who are so close to the action here, are truly a part of the action. Team members were certain to hear their vociferous cries and chants at many key moments in the games, when they were needed most.

In the Recreation division, North Carolina had to battle past its rival South Carolina for the chance to meet Tennessee, which conquered a large and tenacious Southern California team. Team Tennessee is anchored by cousins Travis Fuller, 29, and Billy Jarvis, 33, both of whom were three-sport high school athletes -- with more than ample assistance from Mario Azevedo. The make-up of this year's team is similar to the one that advanced to the quarter-finals in 2000, with the exception of Fuller, who is playing in his first Games. This is the third go-round for Jarvis, who says his cousin Travis was "definitely a good pick-up." And indeed, Fuller's bulkier inside presence is the perfect complement to Jarvis' tendency to spot up for soft outside jumpers. And the slick Azevedo completes the triangle with his quick hands and slashing forays to the bucket.

Jarvis and Fuller share the family's tendency for Allport's syndrome, a hereditary disease that can already be blamed for a total of twelve kidney transplants among seven of their extended family members, including themselves. Two died waiting for a donor organ. Two others are currently waiting.

In the Open Division, three-time defending champion Illinois -- with their "Spare Parts" nickname emblazened on their shirts -- returned to these Games with essentially the same team. Led as always by the inside-outside presence of Mike Henderson and Craig Kincaid, the team also features the all-around abilities of Brad Szczecinski, Jason Pilon, Mike Caroll, and David Meyer.

Meanwhile, Team Kentucky came into the 2002 Games with a vastly improved roster through the addition of just one key player. Team leader and inside force Swopes Thompson says he found and recruited Philip Coleman out of what he described as an "inner-city barbershop league." What must have been obvious to everyone in those games is Coleman's cool on-court presence, and his ability to make nearly any play on both ends of the court. What was probably not as obvious, though in plain view of Swopes' experienced eye, was the shunt imbedded in Coleman's left forearm -- "the badge of honor," he says all transplant recipients immediately notice. Of his recruitment, Coleman merely says, "I'm lovin' it here."

Team Kentucky's third big wheel is Junie Civils, a fierce rebounder and clutch jump shooter. More than ably backing up the Big Kentucky Three are Les Howard, James Kelly, and Andreas Price.

Both teams in each game participated in one set of pre-game lay-up drills -- an extraordinary display of sportsmanship and solidarity, even if the half-court set-up didn't allow for the use of more than one basket at a time. Supporters were taking their places, carefully segmented by team allegiance, and when the lower deck bleachers couldn't accommodate any more fans the rafters started to fill as well. Younger kids played at a few of the eight baskets set up around the gym for this competition, but as game time drew near their parents were calling them over so that they wouldn't miss a minute of action.

One set of supporters began a team chant, and another team's fans would rise up to counter it. It was all in good fun, but there was plenty of passion behind the cheers. The referees, who were recruited from the local recreation, high school, and college ranks, began to take control, putting their whistles in their mouths and pointing and gesturing for the games to begin.

The Recreation Division game started first, and on time, and the Tennessee cousins took control from the start. The team's first three buckets were all soft Jarvis jumpers (one off glass from the wing), and all were assisted by Fuller following a post touch or a strong drive and dish. Billy added another two baskets on his own -- a baseline lay-in after a sweet fake and go followed by yet another jumper -- and Travis showed he could also stroke the J. Tennessee was quickly leading North Carolina, 14-4.

The Open Division game had finally gotten underway, and the primary discernible differences between this contest and the Tennessee-North Carolina matchup were the size of the players, its enhanced physicality, and the referee's more active role. Defense was the name of the game in the early going, as the score was tied 4-4 after six full minutes of action. Amid chants of "Defense!" from both sides, Illinois slowly began to take control inside, and soon pushed out to a 16-8 lead with about five minutes left in the 15-minute first half.

Meanwhile, it was mostly more of the same in the first half of the Recreation final. South Carolina was attempting to run more of a set offense, with a series of high pick and rollsand give-and-go passing, and it began to close the gap until Mario stripped his man at mid-court and nailed a three ball as the exclamation point to his fine play to make it Tennessee 24, North Carolina 13. At halftime, it was 28-17, Tennessee.

The remainder of the first half action of the Illinois-Kentucky game was marked by many foul calls -- including one technical foul against Illinois big man Kincaid -- and a back-and-forth, basket-trading kind of rhythm. Kentucky surged near the end of the half, though, and an acrobatic reverse by Junie Civils made it 24-21 with 1:30 left. The first half ended with a score of 26-23, Illinois.

The teams began trading baskets. Swopes flicked in a miraculous shot that went straight up and in, and Junie Civils took a long time sizing up a long jumper before canning it to keep Kentucky to within one, 39-40. Illinois' irrepressible Mike Henderson then made two buckets in a row, but Civils hit another trademark hesitation heave to keep it at 44-43, Illinois, with just five minutes left.

In the end, the team's two stars -- Kentucky's Coleman and Illinois' Henderson -- took over. In the 2000 finals, Henderson was able to have his way with Utah, scoring repeatedly on barely impeded slashes to the front of the rim for easy lay-ins. But the newly recruited Coleman could keep up with Henderson. He not only made every shot a tough one, but Henderson had to work just as hard on the defensive end to guard Coleman as well. After they traded buckets to make it 46-45, Illinois, Swopes Thompson got a put-back to give Kentucky its first lead of the game, 47-46, with only 1:16 left. Just 16 seconds later, though, Henderson got free for a layup to put Illinois back on top, 48-47.

Kentucky inbounded the ball and began working for its final, potentially game-winning shot. Suddenly, the ref blew his whitle. Three seconds! The first call of its kind in the entire game, but a rule's a rule. Illinois got possession with 40 seconds left, determined to run a stall. Kentucky fouled Szczecinski with 20 seconds left, and he calmly nailed the free throw. But due to a quirk in the rules, Illinois retained possession, and was able to safely run out the clock.

"At the end of a physial game like that," said Szczecinski, "it's all about ball control."