THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2008
SPORTS
3B
BASKETBALL
Weston White / KANSAM
Robert Reynolds, Lee's Summit freshman, cuts through the lane to block the shot of Andrew Randall, Stillwell freshman. Randall and the rest of the Brokeback Mountainters went on to win 44 to 41.
Fun, friendly intramural game turns competitive
Brokeback Mountainers take victory against Zontallica
BY WHITNEY HAMILTON whamilton@kansan.com
The basketball courts that used to have a few fun pick-up games
last week at the Student Recreation Fitness Center now have competitive teams playing on all four courts. It might be intramural, but it's definitely not just a game.
Last night's game was
no exception for the Brokeback Mountainers (sic) and Zontallica.
It would have seemed to be a rivalry between two college or professional basketball teams ying for a national championship, rather than a friendly intramural game.
Both teams started out having fun and making small fouls or turnovers, such as stepping out of bounds or traveling, but they soon realized that in the end there could only be one winner.
A high scorer for Zontallica, Simon Mance, Milwaukee, Wisc., senior, worked under the pressure and made tough shots in the paint.
As soon as the game started, Matthew Mulligan, Overland Park freshman, made the first two points for the Brokeback Mountainers. His team high-fived and cheered him on, hoping that it wasn't just beginner's luck.
The game quickly turned into a game of fouls, mostly on Zontallica. It didn't stop Zontallica from scoring, though. Still even the Mountainers had their fair share of fouls and sent Zontallica to the free-throw line many times during the game.
Ending the first half, Zontallica took the lead 26-22.
With many turnovers in the first half, the victory seemed to be up for grabs for either team. With just more than 10 minutes on the clock, it was a close game with Zontallica leading by only three points.
Coming into the second half, the battle got even more heated.
Frank Lasley, Overland Park freshman, said the Brokeback Mountainers had reason to get back into the game.
"We were all motivated to start playing harder because the other team were poor sports," Lasley said.
"We were all motivated to start playing harder because the other team were poor sports."
As the game wound down, a steal and assist from Andrew Randall, Stilwell freshman, helped Mason
Zontallica responded with Robert Revnolds. Lee's Summit.
Haggerty, Overland Park freshman, score two for the Brokeback Mountainers.
FRANK LASLEY
Overland Park freshman
Bee Sewman.
Mo., freshman,
making a three-point
shot at the top of
the arc.
With time ticking down and only seven minutes left in the game, the Brokeback Mountainers were in the lead.
A technical foul was called when a player on Zontallica kicked the ball after a foul had already been called on the team. Randall stepped to the free-throw line to take the foul shots.
The fake-outs and tough defense weren't enough to tear the Brokeback Mountainers down, which resulted in a final score of 44-41. They celebrated their first victory and didn't seem the least bit surprised at the feat.
"I expected to win by watching the other guys warm up." Haggerty said.
—Edited by Mandy Earles
》 TENNIS
Hawks stay strong after Hawaii
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Women's tennis team hopes to continue winning streak
With every member of the lineup recording a victory in either singles or doubles, the team was digging on some good vibrations coming out of the Hawaii Spring Invitational, which ran Jan. 16-20.
BY ALEX DUFEK
adufek@kansan.com
Honolulu wasn't all fun and sun for the Jayhawk tennis team; they came to play.
"I was really pleased with the overall ability of the girls to step up play against some strong teams. With Florida State, Alabama, Sacramento State and Hawaii, it wasn't an easy tournament by any means," Coach Amy Hall-Holt said.
What may be more impressive about Smith and Torarczyk is the adversity they overcame to achieve such success. While Smith was forced to sit out the fall season with an ankle injury, Torarczyk, a late recruit from Poland, joined the team only a few days before the invitational.
The lajayhawks have no reason not to be pleased with their impressive finishes. In singles action, senior Stephanie Smith and freshman Magdalena Torarczyk both cruised unscathed to perfect 3-0 records.
Senior Elizaveta Adeveva helped powered partner, junior Edina Horvath, turn in a 2-1 performance at the Hawaii Invitation Invitational Jan. 16-20. The duo were part of a KU team that dominated the event.
Hall-Holt praised both players for their performances.
"With Stephanie Smith coming in from ankle surgery and winning all three of her singles matches, you know I was impressed with her performance," she said. "As well as our new freshman that just got in four days prior to us leaving for Hawaii, and she came in and went undefeated in singles and had a good performance in doubles as well."
Freshman Maria Martinez, who teamed up with Torarczyk to go 2-1 in doubles, also had a successful trip, finishing with a 2-1 record in singles. Also recording a 2-1 mark in doubles was the experienced tandem of junior Edina Horvath and senior
Elizaveta Avdeeva, as well as freshmen Kate Goff and Emily Gorham
Vaddeeva, one of three seniors on the squad, talked about what it meant to be a role model for the younger players.
"I already went through it so I know how hard it is at the beginning when you're a freshman, she said. "So I am just going to try to help the girls and show them that if you play hard it's going to pay off."
The Jayhawks will have to maintain their high level of play this weekend when they play Arkansas, as they will take on some stiff competition. The 1FT collegiate rankings have Arkansas ranked 40th heading into this Saturday's showdown in Fayetteville, and Tulsa ranked 44th before this Sunday's matchup against the Jayhawks.
"The first match, we are going to play against Arkansas and they are really good, so we are just going to go and play as hard as we can. I feel like we are really prepared mentally and we have nothing to lose," Adeveea said.
It's too early in the season to set any goals or make any predictions, but Hall-Holt gave reason to be optimistic about this year's team. "I think so far the chemistry of the team is very good and I'm very excited about the group of girls this year and just the enthusiasm that they are bringing," she said. "They see the upswing for other [KU] sports doing well and they want to be right there with all the fame that the other sports are getting."
Edited by Madeline Hyden