The clock is down to its final 10 seconds, the score is tied, and the ball is in your hands. With a perfect combination of dribble moves, you are able to lose your defender and get your shot off. The ball is in the air. The seconds count down, 3-2-1, and the shot goes in! You`ve won the game!

That scenario has probably played out in your head a million times, but you never had the chance to live it. Well, you may get the chance if you join the Intramural Basketball League (IBL) held in The Asylum here at Miami High.

The IBL is a Miami High tradition that has been going on for a while. “We use [the tournament] to support school spirit and fund raise for the Lady Stings Booster Club,” says Coach Boozer Baumagarten, who is in charge of the IBL.

All money raised from the two dollar entrance fee goes towards helping the girls basketball team. About $80 is raised from each game.

The IBL consists of a regular season in which teams go head to head but are not eliminated after a loss. Teams continue to battle against each other until the playoffs. Unlike most major sports, playoffs for the IBL include all teams, not just the top teams. Playoffs are single elimination games where if you lose, you are eliminated from the tournament, which raises the stakes for students to become more competitive and really give it their all if they want to win the championship.

To participate, you must be a Miami High day school student and cannot be on the boys basketball team. To sign up, you create a roster with all the players and the team name on a sheet of paper and give it to Coach Boozer. The sign up is free, but each player on the team must pay $2 each time the team plays in the Asylum. This year, 16 teams have signed up to participate.

The tournament had its first game on April 4^th and continues on through May 30^th. There are two games per week for regular teams and one game per week for teams representing clubs such as Beta, Honoria, Key, etc. Each game is 20 minutes divided into 10 minute halves. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the teams play one minute of overtime.

The players like different things about the tournament. Senior Ernesto Garza, captain of the Fookie Bookie Boys, said, ”The best part is playing the game I love in the school I love.” Sophomore Venacio Lebo, captain of the Money Team, likes taking home the W.

The tournament winners receive prizes for their victory. The first place winners are rewarded for their hard work and consistent performance with medals and a championship trophy. But more than that, they have the experience of going through the long and challenging journey to the championship.

Some players feel very good about their chances for winning. Senior Eric Pagoada, captain of YC, said, ”I feel like my team can really win it all.”

Not all teams are as confident though. “We are a real young team, so we feel like we have an average chance of winning right now, but I feel that we will improve over the years,” said  sophomore Jose Sanchez, captain of Unknown.

The players do feel the competitive nature of the tournament. Senior Mario Tellez, captain of ONS (Orca Ninja Squad), says, ”On a scale from 1-10, it is an eight in difficulty because there are a lot of teams that deserve respect and we are one of those teams.”

Sophomore Isabela Cabanzon of the Lady Ballers, members of the Miami High girls basketball team and the only females in the tournament, says, “The tournament is very competitive because guys are more athletic and skilled than us.”

This Year`s Intramural Teams

Big Boys

Finishers

Fookie Bookie Boys

French Toast Mafia

Illuminati

Lady Ballers

Money Team

Monstars

ONS

OTS

Scrubs

Swaggers

Unknown

Vipers

YC

Young Ballers