“Wii Not Fit” glides to the quaterfinal round of the playoffs as they use both size and speed to outwit the higher ranked Team “4Sum”. | Kara Wall/The Minaret
On Nov. 29 UT kicked off the opening round for the men’s 3-on-3 intramural basketball playoffs. In the 11 p.m. game the 7th ranked “4Sum” team faced off against 10th ranked “Wii Not Fit”.
The game started off with a quick three by Jared Pane of “4Sum”. Besides the early lead, positive events were few and far for “4Sum.”
The height and pure athletic and technical ability put the lower seeded “Wii Not Fit” in the driver’s seat. From boxing out to finishing screens and isolating on offense, they just outplayed “4Sum.”
“4Sum” didn’t lose due to lack of effort though. At the end of the first half they trailed by just four points.
They forced “Wii Not Fit” into taking some bad shots that kept the game close. Sean Duplantis’ quick dribbling and footwork kept the “Wii Not Fit” defense on its toes for most of the game.
Often he drew double teams and help defense and found Jared Pane for open threes.
Matthew Lamolli lead off the second half with a quick release for two points.
His basket started a very quick 14-0 run for “Wii Not Fit” and extended their lead to 34-16, the largest of the night, early on in the second.
The guard play by Lamolli and Kendy Masson along with a few spectacular dunks by Jackie Hicks proved to be too much for “4Sum.”
While both teams had to contend with the outside wind gusts moving the ball “Wii Not Fit” shot above 50% in the second half to extend and secure their lead.
The shots that weren’t falling for them in the first half were ripping through the net in the second.
It seemed as if every person on the five man squad had a hot hand. Likewise the exact opposite also happened for “4Sum.” The normally easy shots were being contended and forced away.
The final score of the game was 49-34, “Wii Not Fit” will play “We Hate Lebron” in the quarterfinals on Tuesday Nov. 30.
Mike Marciano can be reached at mmarciano@spartans.ut.edu.
