Every once in a while high school basketball gives us a classic. It happens about as often as a graduating class with a cumulative GPA of 4.0, but it happened Friday night at Pleasant Grove.

In case there was any doubt about the hype, it was a sellout -- 45 minutes before tip-off.

After 1,450 fans paid at the gate, the rest were turned away. It was estimated that 300-400 people were turned away. Another 100-200 people opted to pay $2 to watch the game in the school's "B" gym. The game was shown on a big screen on the wall that was televised by Pleasant Grove teacher Russ Mayo's student crew.

There was talk of moving this game to Utah Valley State, but the two schools could not agree on the details so hundreds of angry fans were blacked out.

"I couldn't believe it. I thought it was just another game, but people were making hype about it all year, even before the season started," said Pleasant Grove guard LeSean Wilcox. "I thought it was worse last year, but after looking at it, it was packed even before the girls game started."

What was all the excitement about?

For starters the game featured the two team free agent juniors in Utah. Pleasant Grove's C.J. Wilcox and Lone Peak's Tyler Haws were both involved in an open audition for college coaches who were on hand from big time schools like Wake Forest, UNLV, and BYU.

Wilcox and Haws made it worth the trip. Wilcox finished with 30 points. Haws had 24.

The game started with a Wilcox dunk. Pleasant Grove led 20-18 after the first quarter in what proved to be the most entertaining game of the year. The second quarter opened with a Wilcox dunk. The first half ended when Josh Sharp took away a rebound from C.J. Wilcox and scored just before the buzzer to give Lone Peak a 39-35 lead at the half.

The third quarter was like an action movie. There were so many big plays, so often, it was like a Die Hard sequel. C.J. Wilcox hit a 3-pointer, but before the cheering had even died down, Haws had scored for Lone Peak. There was no break for the crowd, because both teams scored so often.

LeSean Wilcox sank a 3-pointer and Kimball Payne showed why he is another Ricky Green, the fastest of them all, when made like Carl Lewis with a basketball. He shot down the lane and scored.

Every time I tried to write something down on my notebook, I missed something.

Bracken Funk scored on a reverse layup for Lone Peak. Two blinks later Craig Tucker canned a 3-pointer for Pleasant Grove.

Back and fourth they went.

Lone Peak finally began to pull away with three minutes left in the game. Funk pulled down one of his 16 rebounds (second best rebounding game in school history) and hit Haws with an outlet pass. He beat the Viking defense down court and threw down a 1-hand dunk to give Lone Peak a 77-69 lead.

The Knights held on from there for a 83-74 win. Round one was over. Lone Peak is now on top of Region 4, but Pleasant Grove knows the race isn't over. The two teams will meet again at Lone Peak in February. That gives fans, coaches, and players a few weeks to digest this one.

"It was one of the best high school games I've ever been around. I was thinking the game would be nothing compared to the buildup. I just think both teams played a very good basketball game," said Pleasant Grove coach Randy McAllister. "It did for me (live up to the hype). We haven't played close to that good all year, and to play that well against that kind of lineup is saying something. They don't see 6-11, 6-10, 6-7, 6-7, very often and I think they handled it beautifully. I enjoyed the heck out of that experience expect for the losing part."

Lone Peak coach Quincy Lewis played at Timpview High School in the late 80's when the Timpview/Provo games rivaled any in the state. That rivalry eventually got moved to BYU's Marriott Center and then UVSC, which is where this game should end up.

"That was one heck of a ball game right there. Unlike last year's game was very sloppy. The kids were just a little too excited. Tonight I thought that was a very well played game," Lewis said. "It was one of the best high school games I've even been a part of. The only thing I can compare this to, was Provo/Timpview in the 80's when both of them were one and two and people were lined up out the door, that's the only thing I can think that compare to it."

In the end, Pleasant Grove may have disappointed, but it was hard for anyone to feel too dejected about the outcome. For an hour and half, we were entertained in a way that seldom happens.

"I thought P.G. was outstanding and I thought we were very good as well," Lewis said. "I think everybody got their money's worth."

That is everyone who was lucky enough to get in.