Tensions were high going into the second round of games of the 2024 Intramural Basketball season. The first game of the night was a highly anticipated matchup between the Windy City Bananas and LOCKPREP (per their Instagram @lock.prep). For this season, the Bananas and Windy City Ballers joined forces under Head Coach Nici Alexandros and Defensive Coach Ryan Kutz. Fans pay homage to what they say is a team that is making history and breaking past standards in the intramural basketball league. LOCKPREP, formerly Patel/Cibula, is coached by Luke Cibula and Akash Patel, both without previous experience in the league. Neither team was above trash talk for this game with the Windy City Bananas posting on their Instagram @bananasbasketball in November poking fun at coach Akash Patel, and players Tommy Szwab and Luke Cibula’s background as Mathletes. Sources also say that LOCKPREP coach Akash Patel called Windy City Ballers’ Defensive Coach Ryan Kutz “a hall of fame yapper.”
The first half of game LOCKPREP showed off their defensive skills and offensive savvy, holding the Windy City Bananas to only four points. After Tuesday’s loss to Creed, player Hmaza Shihadeh in a post game interview, explained that defensive adjustments were critical and necessary to their success against the Windy City Bananas in the first half. The Windy City Bananas struggled to find their rhythm being taken by surprise by the full-court press displayed by LOCKPREP. Despite not dropping many points in the first half, the Windy City Bananas definitely seemed to drop some peels because LOCKPREP could not stay on their feet the entire stretch. LOCKPREP player Tommy Szwab said the above average falling is because “the team loves to help the referees out with their calls!”
The Windy City Bananas peeled out of their offensive slump and put up 21 points in the second half. Despite being down a significant amount, the team never gave up and when they got into their groove it was a much more evenly matched game. The LOCKPREP defense was challenged more so in this half, but there were many impressive plays made by recent walk-on Brandon Young. Teammates regard Young as a great addition to the team and a real play-maker. As the time of the clock slipped away, the game only got more intense with many diving saves by players Cibula and Shihadeh. Tension was only amplified in the last couple minutes when Windy City Bananas player Cristos Alexandros shoved LOCKPREP’s Akash Patel to the ground, receiving a technical foul. Both teams stormed the courts after the incident, but the situation quickly de-escalated when Alexandros and Patel hugged-it-out. Their sportsmanship was a reminder that friendship is bigger than the game. When play resumed, impressive shots were landed by the Windy City Bananas’ Michael Pew and Will Carroll. The members of the LTHS Varsity Boys Basketball team came later to witness the action. All the chaos and excitement of the end game was concluded with an anticlimactic airball. LOCKPREP beat the Windy City Bananas 39-25.
As the intramural season continues to be underway, the competition is only heating up between all eight teams in the league. The regular season games will continue through February 7th with playoff games taking place on the 8th and 12th.