Slam Dunk

round a hundred Exonians gathered in Love Gymnasium this past Friday, dribbling across the wooden floors and competing in a Student Council hosted 3:3 basketball tournament. Passion and enthusiasm heated the floors of the court as the teams made game-winning plays to compete for the top spot.

A single-elimination tournament with a bracket consisting of sixteen teams of three people, the competition for the title was hotter than ever. Each game was five minutes and the players gave all their effort to make the night as best as possible. 

The tournament was held the Student Council Recreations Committee, and it was hosted on Friday night by lowers Ashley Baxter and Lily Sexton. The two were pleased with the outcome of the tournament at the end of the day.

“It was a lot of fun, and there were more teams than we had expected,” Sexton said. “The teams, and even some of the spectators really got into the game. People stayed till the final game, even after they lost, and that brought up the atmosphere.”

Baxter also shared her enthusiasm for the event.

“Usually the event is hosted during March Madness, but this year it was pushed back,” Baxter said. “Hopefully we can host it again next year during March Madness. Lily and I will definitely make a team next year.”

Lowers James Foye, Jess Hebl and Perry DeLorenzo left the gymnasium that night as champions that night, and each received $10 Las Olas gift cards for their victory.

“Our team played really well together and made some clutch plays when we needed to,” Foye said of his team’s performance.

Foye’s teammate, DeLorenzo was also excited about the win.

“We played a total of four games, and each of them were very competitive,” he said. “We had to make a few comebacks in order to win a couple of them. Our team played lockdown defense from the first game on, we grabbed some key rebounds, and made some big shots down the stretch in the final few games, and that allowed us to come up top.”

The night was not a blast for the participants, but for the spectators as well. Jeb Helmers, a post-graduate and member of this year’s boys’ varsity basketball team, had a great time watching his fellow teammates out on the court, as well as the presence of other Exonians playing the game which he loves. 

“The tournament was definitely high energy, I sensed a lot of passion from all the teams and the crowd really got into it as well,” Helmers said. “Although I didn’t play in the tournament, as a spectator and a fellow teammate of many out there on the court, it was entertaining and it was a great time overall.”

“It was a lot of fun, the teams got really into it, and even some of the spectators. People stayed till the final game, even after they lost, and that brought up the atmosphere,” Sexton said.

Student Council plans to hold the same event next year, but with different regulations for even more participation, as well as a more diverse group of participants.

“Next year we plan to have each team have at least one girl, and maybe only one varsity basketball player to make the tournament more appealing to those outside of the Exeter basketball community,” Sexton said.

Overall the tournament was a great success, and Exonians look forward to the next tournament next year.

“We’re going to win it again next year,” DeLorenzo said.