Week nine marked the end of the intramural basketball leagues regular season, with four teams officially locked in and scheduled for playoff games on Monday, Nov. 28. Team Couch barely avoided an upset scare, the Bucket Getters finished strong and the third seed was decided by just a few points to complete the playoff picture. 

The Free Agents rematched with their opponent from week eight, Hoop Mixtape, for the first game of the night. Unlike the last matchup that ended in a 75-47 blowout for the Free Agents, Hoop Mixtape was able to keep the game interesting, with some sloppy Free Agents play and great shooting from Hoop Mixtape keeping the game close in the first half. Hoop Mixtape closed the half by drilling a half court shot to cut their deficit to 36-31. 

The Free Agents came into the second half more focused, running out to a 53-40 lead with 12 minutes left in the game. Hoop Mixtape made a valiant comeback effort, getting the game within nine points before falling short 72-56. The win advanced the Free Agents to 5-4, and gave them a shot at the third seed. 

Following the Free Agents victory was a matchup between the Bucket Getters and Ankle Breakers Anonymous. The Bucket Getters drummed them out of the gate, dominating and taking a 25-2 lead with nine minutes left in the first half, and led the game 47-13 at halftime. The Bucket Getters didn’t lay off the gas pedal in the second half either, outscoring ABA 39-23 in the second half to finish with an 86-36 victory. The win gives the Bucket Getters some more momentum going into the playoffs as the second seed, where they will have a chance to defend their title from last year’s Winter term. 

FA2 and Team Couch saved the best game for last, with Team Couch needing just one more win to complete an undefeated regular season. FA2 came into the game needing a win to clinch the third seed, with a loss putting them at risk of falling to the fourth spot. Unlike most teams this season, FA2 didn’t let Team Couch get control of the game at any point. The matchup was close and competitive throughout, with FA2 matching every run by Team Couch with one of their own. 

The two teams forced each other to make tough shots throughout the first half, with Team Couch barely hanging on to a 23-22 halftime lead. FA2 guard Gabe Reed was the team’s big shot maker in the second half after struggling early, hitting contested fadeaways and pull-up threes to keep FA2’s upset dream alive. 

With five minutes to go, FA2 had kept the game tied at 41, the toughest game Team Couch had seen since their early season matchup with The Bucket Getters. However, the upset collapsed in the final moments. Team Couch started to control time of possession, FA2 missed good looks and Team Couch went on a 7-0 run to put the game away, finishing with a 52-44 victory to complete an undefeated season. 

There was another game scheduled between the Cross Roads and the Blockers, however neither team showed up and both received a forfeit loss. The game was meaningless, however, as neither team had a chance to make the playoffs, and the Cross Roads had forfeit every game since their loss to the Blockers at midseason. 

The Free Agents swiped the third seed in the final week because they had more points than FA2 on the season, which gave them the tiebreaker. FA2 finished with 397 points on the season, while the Free Agents finished with 432 points. This puts FA2 in an interesting spot, as they will have to rematch the team they just lost to in the first round of the playoffs. However, FA2 improved greatly from their first game against Team Couch, where they lost 67-42. If FA2 can keep the playoff game close the same way they did in week nine, they will have a chance to play in the championship. The Free Agents will face the Bucket Getters, who they lost to by a score of 65-52 in week five. 

Scores & Standings

Chase Brostek

Editor

Chase Brostek is an editor who has been writing for The Broadside since 2022. He’s transferring to the University of Oregon in the Fall to continue pursuing his major in journalism. He enjoys spending his spare time writing, playing basketball, and listening to music.