South students gear up for start of intramurals

By Manu Pacheco/reporter

Manu Pacheco/The Collegian  South students can still sign up for the upcoming intramural basketball season.
Manu Pacheco/The Collegian South students can still sign up for the upcoming intramural basketball season.

Not even the cold freezing rain that swept DFW recently could push back the long-awaited opening session of South Campus’ intramural basketball.

Students who signed up for the action attended the opening conference Feb. 11 conducted by first-time basketball intramural director Jordan Thomas, who is working with health and physical education instructor Michael Daniels.

“We hold the intramurals every year to help students to have fun and participate in sporting activities,” Thomas said. “And this year, we are giving the players incentives and scholarships for winning first and second place.”

Even though the intramurals are designed for TCC students to have fun, all basketball rules still apply. Referees, staff and other campus officials will be present at every game to make sure that fair play and rules are followed.

Thomas highlighted one exception to the rules. He wants at least one female added to each team this season, so he reminded everyone that 3-pointers by a female are worth six points. And he plans on at least six teams made up of seven players.

“Due to the weather and to give students an opportunity to still sign up, we are pushing back the first game one week,” he said. “We would like to give TCC students from all campuses an opportunity to still sign up.”

Many students, such as Ronald Brown, 28, a full-time student who signed up for intramural basketball for the first time, have been waiting for the season to start.

“I’ve played basketball all of my life, and I’m hoping to have a lot of fun,” he said.

Many players are full-time workers and full-time students, but in spite of their tight schedule, they say the love and passion for the game brings them to the competition.

Ferd Aguwa, 21, is participating in the basketball intramurals for the second time.

“I’m doing it to win,” he said, as he smiled, tightened his shoelaces and prepared to jump in for a scrimmage.

Students from all TCC campuses can still sign up on the intramural bulletin board in the SHPE building. Starting Feb. 18, games will begin at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.