Hardwood Action from the KwaNdengezi Classic
LJHS Fund Raiser
A standing room only crowd was in attendance at the 4th Annual 3-on-3 KwaNdengezi Classic Friday, March 14th. While Mr. Wiertel, student council sponsor, addressed the forty participating teams, long lines of fans filed in to the LJHS gymnasium. Each of the participating teams was randomly placed into the single elimination tournament bracket. While there were sixteen teams vying for the title in the girls’ tournament, a whopping twenty-four squared off in the boys’ tournament. Over one hundred twenty students and nine faculty members took to the hardwood. Action took place on four courts simultaneously and was monitored by referees Kelsey Kanthack, Marika Kirtadze, Jessica Medrala, and Caroline Smith. The 2008 tournament champions were the Lisle and One Ballas in the boys’ division and the “80s” Babes in the girls’ division. After regulation several of the games had to be decided by free throw “shoot-outs.” With the action stopped on the other three courts participants were gathered around the court where the action was deadlocked. The game was then decided at the charity stripe with each member taking a single free throw to determine the game’s outcome. The Lisle and One Ballas, comprised of Robbie Dean, Ty Howell, Jared Jayne, and Nick Leonard, edged out the Lisle Balla Killas (Kazim Khan, Kevin Murray, and Arek Raclawski) in the title game. The “80s” Babes of Kristen Holub, Skyler Tomko, and Kelly Urban proved to be too much in the title game as they easily defeated the Sideout Crew (Emma Buchholz, Kayla Hanley, Shelby Kretman, and Mrs. Wiertel). Creativity was everywhere…as evident with the team names and uniforms. Fans cheered on their favorites, sported their team’s colors, and raised placards in support of the hoopsters.
For the first time a “best costume" prize was awarded. This year’s winning costume entry was based on an old children’s nursery rhyme… 3 Blind Mice and the Old Lady. The quartet, with blind canes, in hand strolled into the gym amid the cheers of the spectators. Although the final four team members received certificates and a t-shirt winning was not the purpose of the Classic’s hoop action. The afternoon’s goal…everyone can make a difference! Over $900 was raised at the "Classic" alone by the students of LJHS. The money raised was to be donated to FEEDBACK, an organization in South Africa that inspires community development through redistribution of food. Their ultimate goal…nobody goes hungry. Brad Burger, longtime friend of Mr. Wiertel and regional coordinator of KwaZulu Natal has been instrumental in helping the plight of thousands of South African families. FEEDBACK transports the food 6-7 days a week to the poverty stricken areas until they are able to sustain themselves. Many of those in need are victims of child abuse, neglected children, or orphaned by AIDS.
