As fall sports come to an end, another season emerges as a favorite of many. Not high school basketball, not wrestling, not swimming, but IBA.
Intramural basketball may very easily be the most beloved sport at HHS. Students and staff members form teams to compete for the title of the best team in the school.
As teams begin to form, three powerhouses remain from last season: Teachers, Team USA, and the Tropics.
“Our outlook is pretty good. We have Zach Merrill,” Matt Krontz, the team captain of the Tropics said.
The Tropics will return Merrill, one of the best scorers in the league last season, but have lost talent, such as Josh Dycus, to free agency this offseason.
Team USA has made moves this offseason, including picking up free agents Skyler Good and Blayne Dreher, two former basketball players.
“As far as Team USA goes, I think it’s championship or nothing,” Team USA captain Adam Florian said.
Both Team USA and the Tropics said that the only team standing in their way for the title is the teachers. Each team’s captain mentioned the other team, but said that the only real competition is the staff.
“It allows teachers to not only have fun with the kids, but another avenue to get to know other teachers. I’ve met teachers I would have never even talked to much in school if it weren’t for basketball,” Mr. Yazdgerdi, staff all-star, said.
Yaz will be entering his fourth year with the staff, opting to remain with the teachers despite strong recruiting efforts from Team USA.
“Team USA is the team I’ve heard that I think has a good chance. We’ll see. It’s fun every year and any given day anybody can beat anybody,” Yaz said in regards to the IBA title.
The Tropics and Team USA each look to add a third uniform to their collection, fighting for the title of best dressed in the league — a title nearly as important as winning the championship.
Who will end this year as the #1 team in the league? Will it be a powerhouse, or will another team rise to prominence and take it all? Only time will tell.
