Girls’ Intramural Basketball is a new, non-competitive league of all grade levels of girls looking for a chance to play basketball at lower stakes, sophomore Maggie Browe, commissioner and founder, said. There are multiple teams comprised of five to ten girls, Browe said.

The league was created at the beginning of this year, Browe said. The teams started forming in early January, often orginating from existing friend groups, Browe explained. Members of the intramural team do not need any previous experience playing basketball to compete, she said. The organization’s goal is to alleviate the busy schedule and large commitments that come with playing competitive basketball at South, Browe added.

“[The goal of Girls’ Intramural Basketball’s] is to not put so much [pressure] on basketball,” Browe said. “It’s not like you have to go to every practice, which makes it more fun to play the game.”

After recruiting a team with a minimum of five members, groups come up with a team name; they are often inside jokes or puns, Browe said. Teams play against each other once or twice a week, hoping to advance to the playoffs. A bracket will be made for all teams based on points, and while most teams may be eliminated, one team will be left standing with a trophy to represent their cumulative effort, Browe explained.

Samya Khan, junior and member of Devious Dunkers, believes that girls’ intramural basketball serves as a great way for girls to try and familiarize themselves with this new experience. While also trying to learn or improve in a the new sport, there is a great community to support and cheer on a friends and teammates, Khan said.

“Some of the girls haven’t played basketball ever, [so] I think [it is] really cool to explore a new hobby or a new sport,” Khan said. “The main goal is to build more connections and relationships.”

Girls’ games tend to be more lighthearted, but are still extremely competitive, Browe said. Connections with players on the opposing side can also heighten feelings of rivalry, Browe said.

However, intramural basketball is also an opportunity to create new friendships, Khan said. Smiles shared in the hallways are reminders of a competition filled with laughter and excitement the previous night, Khan explained.

“[Each]  team is a close-knit, little community playing within a larger community, the Girls’ Intramural Basketball program,” Khan said.