Spring break is here, which means all intramural teams receive a much-needed bye week before entering the final two rounds of playoffs.
Some teams will use the break to rest injured stars while others will force their players to follow strict training regimens so they don’t lose their “touch” leading into the most meaningful games of the season. And still, other teams will simply hope all their players make it back to Abilene by next Monday and don’t wind up in a Mexican jail or left for dead on a beach in Florida.
Men’s Champ League
We’re down to the final four, and this is far more exciting than March Madness.
It’s no surprise, but the top four teams from the regular season are the only ones still standing.
Sub T-16 was the first team through after a 49-38 victory over Galaxy. The Moonies actually held a lead with five minutes to play but coughed it up faster than a feral cat with a hairball.
Skillz that Killz followed suit defeating Men of BSA 46-35. AJ Huff, captain of the Skillz, said his team has an elaborate game plan he believes gives the Skillz an advantage over other teams.
“Our biggest key has been to put the ball in the basket more than the other team,” Huff said. “Also, stopping them from putting the ball in the basket has proven to be somewhat effective.”
On Tuesday, Drain’n 3’s & Drink’n DPs and GSP joined their rivals in the semifinals with victories over Trojans and 300, respectively. GSP’s two-point victory was by far the closest quarterfinal game and nearly the entire crowd was biting its fingernails, except for the Kojies. They already lost their nails from all the scratching and clawing in their quarterfinal game an hour earlier.
Looking ahead, both semifinal games will take place the Tuesday after break. At 9 p.m., the No. 1 versus No. 4 matchup pits Drain’n 3’s against Sub T-16 in what should be a game for the ages. And by that I mean all ages, because some of the guys on Drain’n 3’s are like 50. Or at least way too old to be in school. Clearly the intramural dream dies harder than Bruce Willis for some.
Immediately following, Skillz that Killz will face GSP. This should be another exciting matchup, simply because the two teams with equal 4-1 records haven’t faced much similar competition, let alone each other. Will the freshmen from Skillz that Killz be able to muster enough of their high school swag to take down GSP’s team-first mentality?
Women’s Champ League
Much like the men, there aren’t any surprises in the women’s final four draw.
The only two non-social club teams, LEGIT and The Has-Beens, finished with the first two seeds and had byes this week. As a result, by the time they play their semifinal games on Tuesday, it will be three full weeks since their last matches. Will they be able to shake off the rust?
Eboni Ellerson from LEGIT seems to think the time off will actually be a positive.
“Maria Morrell will save money because she won’t have to commute from San Antonio to Abilene for games, and the rest of us won’t smell like nasty gym,” Ellerson said.
She said her team is confident in its ability to stay perfect through the playoffs and win the championship.
“Playoffs are cool, and being undefeated isn’t bad either,” Ellerson said, “but let’s be real. We are closer to a basic T-shirt, which we have already chosen the color for. It has us working hard.”
At 10 p.m. Tuesday, LEGIT will play Ko Jo Kai in the semifinals. Ellerson said she looks forward to the matchup because the Kojies have beaten her team in the final for the last four years. At ACU we’re taught to turn the other cheek, but after four years, one might run out of cheeks; it’s time to get revenge.
The other semifinal will feature The Has-Beens and Sigma Theta Chi at 8 p.m. Tuesday. During the regular season, The Has-Beens pulled out a two-point victory, so you can be sure hair will be pulled and fists will fly in this one, as every basket will be more precious than a Siggies’ ring by spring.
Now go enjoy your spring break and stay away from Florida beaches and Mexican prisons.
