Former CU standout Anthony Tolliver gets some game in during the NBA Lockout

The level of competition at the Omaha Metro Summer Basketball League stepped up a notch Thursday night, and not just because the tournament began. Current NBA player and former Creighton Bluejay Anthony Tolliver took the court, joining the tournament’s #1 seed UNO Alumni team. He and former CU start Brody Deren teamed to lead the UNO Alumni squad to the semifinals, which take place July 28. Zurlo’s Pizza, Bellevue University, and the Bellevue Alumni team also advanced to next week’s semifinals, which start at 6 p.m. The championship takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Check out the recaps and photos from Thursday night’s action:

Quarterfinals

UNO Alumni 82, Thompson Basketball Camp 72

Creighton's Ethan Wragge tries to guard former CU star center Brody Deren

After getting the better of Ethan Wragge’s Shanks Law team in the first round, Deren and the UNO Alumni team continued their winning ways. The UNO Alumni are undefeated (7-0) heading into the semifinals, as UNO graduates Andrew Bridger, Mike Jenkins and Tola Dada have set themselves up to get the recognition they deserve for their efforts this summer.

Zurlo’s Pizza 88, Paragas Law 84

Wayne Runnels couldn't lead his team past the quarterfinals

After posting a dominating 101-78 first round win over the Omaha Mavs, Paragas Law looked like they were going to roll again over Zurlo’s Pizza, which was fresh off a hard fought 71-67 win over the Chris Carder Agency. Paragas Law’s Wayne Runnels led his team to a 20-point lead most of the game. But just as Zurlo’s had suffered so many times this summer, Paragas saw its lead evaporate thanks to a huge Zurlo’s run in the second half. Paragas lost by 4, leading Creighton’s Ross Ferarrini to give his former Creighton teammates a little ribbing on Twitter after the game.especially since he is the only Creighton player (current or former) still in the tournament other than Brody Deren with UNO Alumni.

Bellevue University 99, Walentine O’Toole McQuillan & Gordon 73

Jelani Johnson and the Bellevue Bruins advanced to the semifinals

Bellevue University players have expressed that they have felt a lack of respect on what they have done this summer.  They took that frustration out in the quarterfinals.  Bellevue raced out to an early 15 point halftime lead.  They built on their lead in the second half as Bellevue’s  Jelani Johnson and James Parrott were flying in the air with some spectacular dunks.  Then around the arc, Richard Shepherd kept draining three pointers.  WOMG didn’t have an answer and the game was called with about a minute to go.  If you have a chance, you should make a trip down to Bellevue to watch the Bruins this winter.  They are really good and they should have another great season.

Bellevue Alumni 97, John Higgins Weatherguard 79

This one got out of hand early as Bellevue Alumni got out to an early 40-13 lead in the first half and finished the half up by 25. John Turek, Omar Bynum and the rest of the John Higgins Weatherguard team didn’t sit back.  They regrouped and implemented a full court press after halftime trying to cause turnovers and to get back into the game.  The extra pressure made the game heated at times as play had to be stopped several time and the referees had to get the game under control.  The second half caused a lot of press breaking by both teams and Higgins cut the lead to 15 with about 8 minutes to go and 12 with about 4 minutes to go, but the Bellevue Alumni team was too fast and kept breaking the press throughout the half.  The game was called with about 1:10 left.  Bellevue Alumni is a scoring machine in this tournament and head into the semifinals averaging over 101 points a game.  If anything they will try to outscore their opponents.  They were the surprise of this tournament as the only lower seed (#10) to advance.

First Round

UNO Alumni 86, Shanks Law 77

Thompson Basketball Camp 69, Barley’s 61

Zurlo’s 71, Chris Carder Agency 67

Paragas Law 101, Mavs 78

John Higgins Weatherguard 99, Judd Knispel 83

Bellevue Alumni 106, EQ School of Hair 79

Walentine, O’Toole, McQuillan & Gordon 72, Narmi Group 62

Bellevue 84, Leach Camper 68