Friends and family come together every Thursday night, filling the bleachers in support of South’s boys’ intramural basketball. The program provides an alternative option for students at South to continue to play the sport they love, but in a less time-consuming way, shooting guard and sophomore Skyler Joseph, said.

All boys at South are welcome to join, no matter what grade, Michael Jones, Intramural Basketball Sponsor, said. No tryouts are needed for the teams, which do not practice every day and have games weekly, Jones said. Students can join whether they did not make the basketball team at South or because they just want to get competitive with friends, Jones said.

“I joined intramural basketball because I did not make [the team at South],” Joseph said. “We just have a game a week, so it’s not as intense. It was a great way for me to keep playing, and I get to play with my friends.”

Students meet at the start of the intramural basketball season to make their teams, come up with a team name, and create their own jerseys, Jones said. The teams are responsible for being their own referees, Jones said.

“The kids call their own fouls,” Jones said. “It is the honor system in that case, unless we see something that’s egregious.”

Although the players are responsible for calling their own fouls, there are still teachers watching over the games, to keep them under control, Jones said.

“Coach Paul Joshi, Paul Syzdek, and I are watching the games, keeping track of the score, and making sure everything is going the way that it is supposed to be going,” Jones said.

Senior and forward Jamie Rasmussen joined intramural basketball to continue his passion for sports and keep up his conditioning for baseball. Along with Rasmussen, many athletes participate in intramural basketball to continue to stay in shape.

“Students who are not in a winter sport are able to get a good workout in and have a fun, competitive game with friends,” Rasmussen said.

Along with keeping up physically, Intramural basketball is a way for students to create new friends in a competitive atmosphere, Jones said.

“[My favorite part about intramural basketball is] just playing the sport,” Jones said. “I just like shooting a basketball. The team is perfect for people [who] are not going to make the team and still want to play.”