Last Sunday, January 23, Jesuit students squared off in the first day of the 2011 JBA season. With ten teams playing and three hours allotted for games, athletes from all teams left the gym exhausted.
This year features a couple new fixtures atop the leader board, with a surprisingly strong performance from the BC. With two former Jesuit basketball players in Nick Dell ‘12 and Sean Tomlinson ‘12, the Crew managed to shut down teams and light it up from downtown, with Thomas Hughston ‘11 providing an unexpected spark off the bench. The Crew went 4-1, with photographer David Clark capturing every moment on film. The Crew established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, stunning the majority of the league. Their only loss came at the hands of Blake Griffin and Co., an upstart squad filled with potential after their acquisitions of Ben Wright ‘12 and Brian Buell ‘12. BG&Co will look to move on without three point marksman and team leader Chris Steiner ’12, the downtown assassin who models his game after three point specialist Kyle Korver, who suffered a devastating knee injury. Griffin and Co. felt the absence of co-owner Mike Stephens ‘12, posting a 3-2 record on the day. Phili looks to be one of the better teams in the league, led by last year’s MVP Luke Zeske ‘11, Mike Savage ‘11, and Jordan Spieth ‘11. Phili handled the competition flawlessly until they were upended by Jacked. Diversiteam also looks to be a strong contender, boasting an impressive roster that consists of Ryan Grant ‘12, Hank Tobolka ‘12, Preston Martin ‘12, and Colin Cunningham ‘12. Team Tight had a solid week, upending Griffin and Co. early in the day, only to be defeated in the rematch hours later. With the tandem of Carson Fredericks ‘11 and campus ministry director Mr. Murphy, Team Tight looks to make a deep run into the playoffs and wreak havoc among the competition. In a league filled with parity, several teams have already taken steps toward hoisting the trophy and claiming the title of league champions. As the weeks progress, the development of these squads will be crucial for obtaining the title.
