Play continues in SE Campus three-on-three tournament
by Eric Hooker, reporter

    Three-on–three basketball playoffs have begun on SE Campus.

   The Mavs jumped out to a 26-18 early lead. In one of the key plays of the game, Mike Gibbs of the Mavs missed a 3-pointer, but managed to score 2 points after the Mavs grabbed the rebound.

   Gibbs scored consistently on Keep it Real’s defense throughout the game.

   Another Mavs player, Wendell Lewis, fought off the picks set by Keep It Real to score many points inside the paint.

   With 15 minutes left in the game, the Mavs put the game out of reach. Gibbs made five consecutive 3-pointers to make the score 42-20.

   The Mavs displayed excellent depth and teamwork and stretched their lead to 63-38 late in the game.

   In retaliation, Josh Ritter of Keep It Real scored several jump shots.

   However, Keep It Real’s rally was too late. The final score allowed the Mavs to move to the next round of the playoffs.

   Keep it Real was eliminated from the tournament.

   The two remaining teams from the playoffs will meet for the championship title on Thursday, April 25.

   In the other games, The Real Players defeated the Panthers 56-53.

   Neither team had trouble scoring in the high-scoring, but close contest.

   Rodney Charles and Octavius Martin of Real Players both complemented each other on the court.

   The Panthers struck first, jumping out to a 4-0 lead.

   Billy Williams took charge of the Panthers, making several 3-point shots and scoring easily from the perimeter.

   Real Players came back and took the lead later in the game.

   Up 50-44 with one minute left in the game, Panthers’ Williams sank two back-to-back 3-pointers tying the game.

   Both teams fought with intensity, but the Real Players managed to score two more times, making it 53–49.

   With nine seconds left and the Real Players up by 2, Williams again scored, but it was too little too late.

   With the victory, The Real Players moved on to the next round.

   In the next game, Showtime crushed the Real Players 81-16.

   Early in the game, Showtime’s size advantage was obvious as they quickly cruised to a 33-8 lead.

   Showtime’s teamwork had the Real Players outmatched.

   Jerome Malone of Showtime and Taryn Chriss both dominated the game making inside layups and 3 pointers at will.

   With a scoreless drought of 15 minutes, the Real Players were unable to come back. Later, Showtime’s insurmountable lead grew to 56-13.

   Unable to keep up with Showtime’s brutal pace, the Real Players were eliminated from the tournament.

   The next challenger for Showtime is the Mavs, the number 1 seed with Showtime at number 2.