Jhantae Jones
Staff Writer
On Oct. 1, the gym was not ready for what could happen. The first intramural basketball game of the year marked the beginning of the season at Broward College Central Campus. The gym was packed to the brim and many students had brought their shoes or snacks, ready to compete or spectate.
Setting aside the casual day-to-day play, intramurals offer a more competitive environment for any sport at the school. Fortunately for the students, the school was well prepared, providing a more professional setup with referees and scoreboards. The excitement among the students was notable—this was something they did not want to miss. The intramural season for the Fall 2024 semester runs from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31. However, the Central Campus has only hosted one intramural basketball event so far, with hopes for more every Tuesday.
The event began in the early afternoon. To participate, students were required to sign their names on a separate sheet specifically for the tournament, different from the usual basketball gym sign-in sheet. While signing up, students either arranged themselves into teams or randomly chose a team by filling in an empty slot. Once the tournament was about to begin, attendance was taken to ensure everyone was present and ready to play. In total, four teams registered, with each team having a minimum of four players and a maximum of five, including one substitute.
The first game began with the team perceived as the underdog starting strong, quickly taking a big lead. They cooled down a bit, allowing the opposing team to make a comeback and narrow the gap. However, the underdogs managed to regain their momentum and secured the victory. The second matchup featured another underdog team versus a team of giants, and I was personally part of the underdog team. This game was very physical and hard-fought, with many fouls and free throws throughout. The physicality stemmed from the fact that there were prizes on the line, combined with the teams’ competitive nature. Unfortunately, the underdogs lost, though not without some controversy—there was an issue with the scoreboard due to a referee’s mistake, which frustrated the team. With both semi-final games concluded, it was time for the final match, and, unsurprisingly, the team of giants came out on top. Their prize was Amazon wish lists, along with some earned respect on the court.
With that, intramurals wrapped up a very physical and keenly contested tournament. It had its heated moments but also plenty of fun. As one competitor, Wilken Elusma, said, “The tournament felt like a UFC cage match.” Take that how you will, but it was an exciting event, and we cannot wait for the next one to take place.ace.
jonesj383@mail.broward.edu
Caption: Intramural basketball. Photo by Jhantae Jones/The Observer