South teams battle for top slot
by Jason Hollins, reporter

    South Campus intramural fans expecting a closely contested 5-on-5 basketball game March 7 were not disappointed when the Crawford team won 59-51.

    Spectators had predicted the closeness after a tight practice game two days earlier.

    “That was one of the best games I have seen in years,” Paul Stewart, South intramural director, said about the practice game.

    The atmosphere on Wednesday may have seemed a bit strange to regular South Campus spectators. Usually players display a cocky attitude, but for this championship game, everyone seemed more serious than normal about winning.

    From the start, Michael Crawford became the apparent leader of his team. He repeatedly forced his way through the strong defense of Brian Blakely. Shana Pitt used her speed to beat her opponents down the floor on two quick breakouts.

    The game stayed close with Lawrence Alexander working down in the paint and dishing the ball back outside to Joseph Chandler, who had the feel on the three-point shots scoring 11 points.

    “We gotta stop Big Mike from shooting,” Alexander said at the half.

    When the second half started, the score was tied at 34. Alexander and his teammates did contain Crawford in the second half holding him to just eight points in the second half.

    However, the damage could not be overcome completely because Crawford's teammate Mario Brown picked up where he left off.

    Using a decoy tactic, Crawford drew the defense, then passed the ball to Brown who finished with 17 points.

    Rough play and whistle blowing slowed the second half. Alexander's team used its free-throw shooting to close the gap on the shoulders of Davin Wright. Wright finished the game with 14 points.

    Despite a valiant effort, Wright and his teammates fell short. The final score was 59-51 in favor of Crawford's team.