The Commentator
Volume 63 Issue 1

Intramural Championship Goes to Overtime

by Carmi Gross

The championship game of this year’s intramural basketball season showcased two great teams, the Lakers and the GlobeTrotters. In the first half, the overpowering Lakers broke away with a huge 34-19 lead. Led by Mark Hecht with eleven points, the Lakers were dominating the Trotters to the extent that the spectators expected the same pattern to continue into the second half.

The second half began with the Lakers scoring the first basket thereby expanding their lead to 17. Slowly but surely, however, the Trotters started cutting the lead despite the fact that their big man, Russ, was resting on the bench due to foul trouble.

After a very quiet first half of only five points, Trotter Uri Yudowitz capitalized on the Lakers slouching defense by draining two big three pointers that sliced the lead even more.

The big surprise, however, came from the Trotters point guard, Ami Robinson, who is known for his slashing moves to the basket and his ability to find the open man for the easy bucket. He came up huge in the second half when he scored eleven of his game total, thirteen points.

With under a minute remaining and down by five, the Trotters had no choice but to foul, which put Laker Joey Aharon at the line for two free throws. Although he sank the first one, the point did not count because of a lane violation committed by his own teammate. Joey then missed the second.

So as not to burn any extra time off the clock, Robinson rushed down the court to find himself wide open from three point range, and to quote Dan Patrick of ESPN, "he hit nothing but the bottom of the net." Now, only down by two, the Trotters once again fouled Joey as soon as the ball was inbounded. Joey missed the next two free throws as well allowing the Trotters to regain possession of the ball and call a quick time out to set up a last second shot.

With only five seconds left in regulation, no one knew who Coach Steve Melner would select to take the final shot. Would it be Robinson, Yudewitz or league MVP Akiva Sausen? This question would soon be answered. The ball was inbounded to Robinson and then outleted to Sausen, who only had one man to beat, the Lakers’ big man Alex Shaqamurav. Sausen penetrated straight to the hoop ignoring all defenders, and threw up a prayer that was answered. We’re going into over time.

In overtime, the Lakers fell apart. After a quick three by Yudowitz, Mark Hecht and Kimelman picked up two costly technical fouls. Consequently, on free throws alone, the Trotters were able to build an eight point lead. Yudowitz shot 9-12 at the line in OT for the Trotters, a stat that contributed to the game’s outcome. Before time had expired, the celebration had begun with picture taking, Captain Pinki Mickli being showered with an ice bucket, and continued fun throughout the night. Congratulations.