The two-day tournament to earn the title sanctioned by the Illinois High School Association was played at the Peoria Civic Center in conjunction with the IHSA's Class A boys basketball tournament, which ended Saturday.

Lights dimmed, and the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls' theme song pumped through speakers near the Exhibit Hall court as an emcee announced the starting lineups of the Windy City Warriors, made up of students from various Chicago suburbs, and the Rockford Junior Chariots, comprising students from northern Illinois.

"It's hugely exciting. And one of the most exciting things is that for the first time ever, the IHSA is crowning a state champ," said tournament director Katie Hogan of the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association. "Some people drove 14 hours plus to play ball here."

In addition to the IHSA state wheelchair finals, a Prep National Tournament and a Junior Varsity National Tournament also were played in the Exhibit Hall and at the RiverPlex.

Teams from New Jersey to Seattle competed in the event. Eleven with players ranging from ages 9 to 14 played in the Prep tournament, and five teams with members ages 14 to 16 played in the Junior Varsity category.

"It's 23 teams from coast to coast competing in these three tournaments," Hogan said.

The Bennett Blazers from Baltimore won the Prep tournament trophy, and the Bay Cruisers from Berkeley, Calif., finished first in the Junior Varsity.

Many fans drawn by the Class A tournament and the Experience attractions at the Civic Center, and who had never seen wheelchair basketball, gazed in awe at the games.

Bill Stricklin, 61, of Carbondale came to watch the Class A tourney, but between games found his attention glued to the Exhibit Hall courts.

"I do volunteer work with horses for the handicapped in Carbondale, and I am going to tell the kids about this," he said. "I'm going to tell them they can do anything."

Other fans, as they crowded the wire railing surrounding the court, whispered questions to each other about the games' adapted rules as they stared quizzically intrigued.

Ginny Ronczkowski, a special needs teacher in Bloomington, and her husband, Paul, brought their daughter, Emma, 9, and son, Teddy, 13, to the Experience along with nine other boys for Teddy's birthday party.

"I told the kids to watch these games. If they think basketball is tough for them, take a look at these kids playing in wheelchairs," Ginny Ronczkowski said. "It's amazing."

Creating an awareness of wheelchair basketball as a sport was the main purpose of the tournament, officials said.

"By having it inside the Experience, we are hoping people will watch it and will spread the word," said IHSA Administrator for Officials Dave Gannaway.

Not only did the teams participating travel from all over the country to play, so did the 14 referees. Gary Duplantis made the long haul from Arkansas.

"It's humbling to be a part of the first-ever state finals," said the 20-year veteran official. Duplantis was joined by his usual wing man, Mike Woodard from Kentucky.

"You get to see the joy on the kids' faces," Woodard said about the best part of his job. "One kid scored and yelled to the sidelines, 'Mom, you owe me $20.'"

Both refs agreed that the sport, which started with injured World War II veterans in the 1940s, will continue to grow, and they expect to see more teams in the tournament next year.

Windy City Warriors coaches Len Ciarlette and Dan Humphreys have been coaching their team for six years.

"We never thought our seniors would have a chance to see the state tournament," Ciarlette said. But his team won the historic first-place trophy with a 52-18 title game victory over the Junior Chariots.

Several players on the Warriors team plan to play in college or overseas, representing the United States in international and Olympic wheelchair basketball.

"It's history in the making, and the kids are excited to be a part of that," Humphreys said.

Junior Chariots coach Andy Clark said his team had worked hard all year, and the tournament was a huge experience for them.

"It's very different from the tournaments we have played before because there is so much outside entertainment," Clark said, referring to the IHSA tournament atmosphere.

"And they made history."