On Tuesday, February 21st, the highly competitive intramural basketball tournament came to a close. The day started with four teams remaining and ended with one team victorious. The tournament began in late January, and teams have played every Tuesday after school in the north and east gyms. This year’s tournament featured 13 teams with over 100 total players. The tournament often consists of many competitive teams as well as teams just looking to have fun. One of the big draws of the tournament is that it is run by the Athletic Department, so it is free to participate in, unlike most Student Council sponsored events. Winning the tournament gives you bragging rights, as well as a plaque on the Intramural Championship Wall.
The semi-final match-ups consisted of the two seed, 150 Dream Team, against Dem Boys, the 3rd overall seed, and the number one overall seed, Anklebreakers went up against the 4 seed, True Grit. The first game started off closely contested with both teams trading baskets back and forth. Dem Boys were led by juniors, John Kubert and John Hansen. 150 Dream Team, led by senior Logan Borgmeier, gradually pulled away and eventually put the game to bed. They won by over 20 and moved on to the championship game coming off of last week’s loss to Anklebreakers. On the other court, Anklebreakers took on True Grit for the second time in the tournament. True Grit looked to upset the undefeated number one seed and were leading at halftime. They were led by former East basketball players, Carson Hartter and Ethan Mitten. Anklebreakers started the second half hot and lead throughout most of the game but with a few seconds remaining, True Grit made a three to tie the game up and send it to overtime. After a one-minute overtime period, Anklebreakers became victorious outscoring the 4 seed winning the game by two. Anklebreakers were locked into the championship game and set to play 150 Dream Team.
The championship game was highly contested, and the third game throughout the season-long tournament between the two sides. The first game resulted in a tie, and the second game Anklebreakers took convincingly by 15 points. In the championship game, Senior Bojan Dakic led the scoring for his team.
“He couldn’t miss,” commented an Anklebreaker player referring to Dakic. Seniors Reid Donovan and Max White kept the game close for the Anklebreakers but 150 Dream Team’s shooting was ultimately too much to match. 150 Dream Team won the intramural championship after being the tournament’s runner up last year. Senior captain for 150 Dream Team, Kamron Ihde, was not able to make it to the game, “I was upset I couldn’t play but was proud of my team for taking the championship.”
Their names will go up on the Intramural wall and will remain in East records forever.