As Del Mar’s 3v3 basketball tournament continued last month, all teams struggled to have their entire team available to participate. Rather than not allow members who did show up the chance to play, Intramural Sports Director Carla Gamez-Vela instructed students to pick teams and play in games of full-court four on four instead of the half-court three on three from the first round of play.
Students chose to have the first two players who made a three-pointer become team captains. Angelina Lopez made her first shot with ease while JJ Haywood stepped up shortly after Lopez and did the same to claim the other captain spot. Haywood immediately insisted that he wanted the ball first, so he allowed Lopez the opportunity to choose the first player.
This game was a true test of stamina as the best scoring opportunities came when players rushed to the other end of the court after a missed shot. Ben Torres was quick to both ends of the court, allowing Haywood’s team to capitalize on these opportunities while also limiting them on defense.
Mark Rosales and Haywood were two of the best three scorers in the tournament and respective leaders for their initial teams. Now teammates, they proved difficult to stop. Despite this, Lopez’s team used size with Oscar Valenzuela and Dallas Owen to prevent easy baskets and keep the game close until the end and all players had fun battling it out in by far their most grueling match.
Haywood’s team took home the win, but Gamez-Vela awarded all students who participated throughout the end of the tournament a trophy and a Del Mar College basketball shirt.
The next chance to compete in an Intramural competition will be the first week back from spring break on Wednesday, March 19 with the one-on-one basketball tournament held in the Heritage Campus gym from 2:30-4 p.m.
