The 3×3 tournament heats up when the teams set foot on the court. A huge turnout of 57 players and 19 teams entered in hopes of winning. Open dribbles fill the air, and play gets intense as shots get blocked.
This tournament was introduced to have a fun and creative way to unwind and relax on the half day. It is a good distraction from all the hustle and bustle before break.
The tournament, run by the GL Athletic department, took place in the main gym with the help of many gym teachers and other staff.
Two separate brackets one consisted of boys and the other of girls. The boys played a well-fought battle and had competitive games every match. While the girls worked hard to win.
Tough teams led to big upsets in the first few rounds. Every team came to play and gave it their all. Many teams were wearing matching uniforms and colors to represent.
Teachers made an appearance in the bracket. On the boy’s side, the teacher’s team was Mr. Gustafson, Mr. West, and Mr. Austin Butler. On the girls’ side, the teachers were Ms. Livingston, Mrs. Conrad, and Mrs. Hudson.
While the boy teachers team had a hard-fought battle in the championship game, they ended up falling short to the Goon Squad, consisting of Andy Tatsch, Ian Decerb, Max Butler, and Brady Prohovic.
They were a tough opponent, going undefeated in all of their games that day. They were also dunking and practicing their skills on the side of the court, preparing for their games.
The teachers on the girls’ side had other plans. In a strenuous battle, the teacher played the junior varsity starters: Miley Williams, Brie Havrilla, and Maggie Maiers. The teachers beat the young players previously in a pool play game. Once they rematched, the girls came prepared. They beat the teachers to force the second championship game but ultimately fell short.
“It was exhausting. We ended up playing two games in a row,” shares Hudson after the win.
Coach of the girls basketball team, McKenzie Livingston, shares, ”I was 100% confident that we could win. I know my players’ weaknesses.”
Although the tough players came up short, they still had a great time competing for fun. ”I had fun playing against my teammates and even coaches. It was nice just playing for fun and having a good competitive team,” said Williams.
All in all, this was a great experience from the players, to the student refs, to the fans. The 3×3 basketball was a unique and fun experience for Latrobe and will be thought of for half-day tournaments to come.
