Grand Rapids, Michigan — If Week 3 was about teams finding their identity, Week 4 was about responding under pressure.
Tournament basketball has a different feel. Every possession matters. The pace becomes more physical, the intensity rises, and players quickly learn the difference between regular-season basketball and win-or-go-home competition.
Monday night’s opening round delivered exactly that, featuring a buzzer-beater, multiple comeback attempts, and three highly competitive games that set the stage for Championship Night.
Legacy Division (12–14U)
NYBA Red (3-1) def. NYBA Blue (1-3), 61-25
The final score tells one story, but the biggest takeaway was how aggressively NYBA Red established control from the opening possession.
Kalin Guyton brought his usual energy on both ends of the floor, setting the tone defensively while creating opportunities in transition. Noah Hardy was confident from the perimeter, knocking down shots and forcing the defense to extend. Jackson Larson controlled the paint by attacking the glass and consistently finishing around the rim, while Rey Medina Jr. continued his balanced play, scoring efficiently both inside and from the perimeter.
To NYBA Blue’s credit, they never stopped competing. Jevel Green sparked several positive stretches that gave his team momentum, but digging out of a large early deficit proved too much against a Red team that continues to play with confidence heading into the championship.
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NYBA Black (4-0) def. NYBA White (0-4), 36-33
This was the type of tournament game where every possession carried weight.
NYBA White had opportunities throughout the game to pull off the upset, but missed free throws ultimately became the difference. Against an undefeated team, those are the possessions that often determine the outcome.
Ahmond Green once again demonstrated his versatility. Instead of dominating inside, he stretched the floor and consistently created offense from the perimeter. Brady Brown delivered several timely hustle plays, while Callan Brown continued to impact the game in winning moments.
On the other side, Juelz Campbell turned in his strongest performance of the Summer League, keeping White within striking distance throughout.
Then came the moment everyone will remember.
With the clock winding down, Jax Balulis stepped into a three-pointer at the buzzer, lifting NYBA Black into the Legacy Division Championship and preserving their undefeated season.
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Champions Division (9–11U)
NYBA Red (4-0) def. NYBA Blue (0-4), 25-14
Credit NYBA Blue for refusing to back down.
Trey Brown, LJ Wallace IV, and Tahj Chapoel helped Blue race out to an early lead, playing with confidence and energy while putting the tournament’s top seed on its heels.
What separated NYBA Red wasn’t talent, it was composure.
They never rushed, instead, they trusted their defense.
For much of the second half, Red’s defensive pressure limited Blue to just one made basket, completely changing the rhythm of the game. Once they regained the lead, their execution became sharper on both ends.
Makhai Calvert once again delivered offensively, while Bobby Springer Jr. and Legend Williams made timely plays late to help Red close out another impressive victory and earn a spot in the championship game.
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NYBA Black (2-2) def. NYBA White (2-2), 26-25
The final game of the night produced the tournament’s biggest upset.
NYBA Black started fast before NYBA White responded with an impressive run, eventually controlling much of the game. It looked as though White had seized momentum at exactly the right time.
But tournament basketball often comes down to one final sequence.
Allen Cannon Jr. sparked Black with an energetic scoring run that shifted momentum back in their favor. Then, in the closing moments, Kylon Broyles came up with perhaps the defensive play of the night, followed by the game-winning layup to complete the comeback and send NYBA Black into the championship.
It was another reminder that in tournament basketball, no lead is ever safe until the final buzzer.
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Championship Night
Wednesday, July 29
5:00 PM — #2 NYBA White vs # 4NYBA Blue (9-11U) Champions Division Consolation
5:45 PM — #3 NYBA Blue vs #4 NYBA White (12-14U) Legacy Division Consolation
6:30 PM — #1 NYBA Black vs #2 NYBA Red (12-14U) Legacy Division Championship
7:15 PM — #1 NYBA Red vs #3 NYBA Black (9-11U) Champions Division Championship