By Colt Langley/sports editor
John Jones/The Collegian
Six competing basketball teams showed up for their first showdown as NE basketball intramurals began Feb. 19.
Games consisted of two halves, both 18 minutes long with a four-minute halftime.
The first game between the Chupacabras and the Akron Hammers seemed almost evenly matched.
During the first half, the Chupacabras lagged a bit but played more like a team in the second half.
In the last minute of the game, the Akron Hammers scored their final goal, which gave them the win. The final score was 40-39.
Eldridge Richardson, an aggressive player for the Chupacabras, said he would have liked to see his team play stronger in the first half.
“I’d say in the first half we were kind of slow, and then in the second half we stepped up our game,” he said. “But in the last minute, they [the Akron Hammers]
John Jones/The Collegian
held their ground, and it ended up being a great game. We just fell out one short.”
For the Akron Hammers, Rob Salim continually put points on the scoreboard. Salim said he was happy with the team’s win but noticed its shortcomings in the second half.
“I felt like we started out very strong when we finished the first half,” Salim said. “We were up about 10, and then in the second half, we kind of fell apart. Our defense got a little sloppy, but at the end of the game, we pulled it out with our hard teamwork.”
Salim’s teammate Scott Nickell said even though he may not be as experienced as the rest of his team, he wants to succeed.
“My teammates are a lot better than I. I’m just here supporting and doing whatever it takes to win,” Nickell said.
Ken Foster, NE assistant intramural director, said he enjoyed watching the first game.
“The first game between the Akron Hammers and the Chupacabras was outstanding. The first half for the Chupacabras was weak, but they overcame their deficit with good defense and solid shooting in the second half,” Foster said.
The second game between the Untouchables and the Wolfpack was not as close.
The Untouchables were at a disadvantage with only eight players.
The Wolfpack had 10 to 12 players. But for the Untouchables, numbers did not matter.
The Untouchables held the lead throughout the whole game. At the end of the first half, they led 33-6. The final score was 56-20.
Untouchables player Joseph Jones said his team had a real connection.
“I think the team played well,” Jones said. “We definitely had a vibe, playing as a cohesive unit.”
Because the Wolfpack had more numbers, it could keep rested players on the court, but it did them no good.
“I think their strategy was good. They took advantage of our numbers,” Jones said. “That was a real thought-out move.”
Foster said he felt bad for the Wolfpack.
“They just couldn’t seem to gel,” Foster said.
In the last game, the Aztecs took on the Titans. Playing for the Titans were two women unlike the previous games that had no women.
For Emily Cain and Emily Darnell, anytime they made a regular two-point shot, their team was given three points. If they scored from the three-point line, the team was given four points.
Darnell felt that the difference in scoring for the women was fair.
“I think it’s pretty fair because last year we didn’t have that rule, so I didn’t receive the ball from teammates very much,” Darnell said.
Both girls ended up putting points on the scoreboard, which helped the Titans to take the win.
