With the intramural basketball season coming to an end last week, a quick roundup of those less-publicized intramural events over the last month makes a good segue into the post-basketball phase of the Recreational Sports calendar.

Ice Hockey

When asked about the level of competition during this year’s intramural ice hockey season, senior head official Mike Lynch summed it up well: “The league has been very competitive this year, so anyone could walk away with the title.”

In League A, Donkey Ranch rode a 5-1 record and 10 points to the top of the league standings. This top record gave Donkey Ranch a bye into the semifinals of the League A Tournament.

Despite the success of Donkey Ranch, the real surprising team heading into the start of last week’s first round of the playoffs was Beast Hockey. The first-year squad entered intramural action largely unnoticed, but was talented enough to finish tied for second during the season with Cobra Chi at 4-2.

The League B regular season champion, Hamilton Fire Department, earned its way to the top of the standings behind the excellent play of the Lynch brothers, the aforementioned Mike and his sophomore brother Brian. Hamilton Fire Department finished the regular season at 4-2 with eight points, one point better than Natty Ice, whose tie with the last-place Frozen Ovaries cost the squad a shot at an important bye in the playoffs.

Volleyball

Every year the same story seems to repeat itself in League A volleyball, and this year is no different, as Theta Chi A, the Ringers and the Lolligaggers engage in a three-way race for the League A title. The three teams won five of their first six matches and look to continue the success throughout the rest of the season.

In League B, Delta Upsilon is off to a 3-0 start and looks safe to lock up the League B regular season championship next week when the regular season ends. However, with other highly experienced intramural squads like the LNA Pound R’s, Beta Theta Pi (Beta) and two Phi Kappa Tau (Phi Tau) teams, there is still plenty of flexibility left in the standings.

The team on top of League C right now is the 3-0 Diabeatings. Despite their strong start, next week the team has to face its two toughest opponents in the league, Theta Chi B and Phi Delta Theta (Phi Delt) B.

3-on-3 Basketball

During February 19’s 3-on-3 Intramural Basketball Tournament, only one team had to play three games. Fortunately for Phi Delt, all three of their games resulted in victories and thus the 3-on-3 title.

Phi Delt rode amazing three-point shooting and opportunistic game play to defeat the Townhausers, the LNA Pound R’s and Donkey Ranch with relative ease. Seniors Jim Marusich, Brandon Cannaday and Pat O’Brien and sophomore Matt Lambert comprised the team.

Foul Shooting

A week after the 3-on-3 Tournament, the annual Foul Shooting Contest took place in Huntington Gymnasium. The team winner was the LNA Pound R’s, whose top four shooters made a combined 137-of-200 attempted free throws (68.5 percent). Other teams that placed included the Diabeatings, who made 119-of-200 (59.5 percent) and Phi Delt, which made 118-of-200 (59 percent).

The overall individual winner was senior Jake Krong, who made 41-of-50 free throws (92 percent). Krong also won the contest as a first-year, but found it more rewarding this year.

“I was playing IM basketball this year, but I missed the end of the season with an ankle injury,” Krong said. “Winning the foul shooting contest eased the pain of having to sit out the playoffs.”

Senior Erin McCarthy took the women’s title by sinking 34-of-50 attempts, good for a 68 percent rate from the charity stripe. McCarthy credited her four years of high school basketball for the high percentage, as well as being “in the zone” throughout much of the contest.