A few minutes after 10 p.m. on Dec. 4, the intramural basketball championship was underway. The teams were Teekna and the Newbie Nuggets, and they both put in a good effort all season long.
The Newbie Nuggets took the win to make their record for the season 9-0. The head coach of the team, junior Ben Kuiken, kept the team motivated and on track after every game.
“We go over what we did wrong and strive to do better,” Kuiken said.
Teekna gave it their all this season as well, winning five of their games. Even though the final championship game was a big upset for them, they did not view it as a failure.
“It was a good opportunity to be here,” first-year team member Ryan Mentzer said.
The success of the Newbie Nuggets in the final game did not foster any jealousy. “The other team [Newbie Nuggets] was a good team. Maybe next time [we will win],” Mentzer said.
The game was very short and informal and drew a small but supportive crowd. “We came to support our friends,” junior Ryan Axt said.
The winning team cheered with excitement after the game, and many of the players stuck around to shoot a few more hoops after the win.
“It was a good season; I mean, we made it to the championship,” Kuiken said. “What more could you ask for?”