Jolene Nacapuy
Sports Editor
The Leo Hoops League dribbled into action for the first time Nov. 21 in a tournament held by Cal State Northridge.
The team played in four games throughout the weekend, defeating Cal State Northridge, but fell to San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara twice.
They came in fifth out of eight teams in the tournament.
This tournament was the first club tournament that CSUN held.
“We just played and represented our school in a best way possible and a lot of people were surprised we only practiced for a month and still participated,” sophomore president Adam Plax said.
“The tournament was huge for the program because players from other schools would ask where La Verne was and it was good to talk about our school,” he said.
The team played CSUN in its first game and won, 44-41.
Sophomore Jack Matsunaga led the team with 17 points, followed by junior Dylan Helme with eight.
“It was good to have our first experience as a club because we were able to see how competitive everyone was and learn from them,” sophomore vice president Bayan Furutan said.
“We were able to see that each team had a lot more practices together than we did and it helps us to come together so we can compete,” he said.
The next day, they faced San Luis Obispo and lost 46-35, with Helme scoring nine and Matsunaga with six.
“I feel like we could’ve won that game but we just lost it and that resulted in the loss,” junior Bryan Okereke said.
In the last game of the tournament, the team faced Santa Clara but lost 58-52.
Matsunaga led the team once again with 17 points and juniors Nate Burchardt and Harrison Cole had eight.
“We were a little down about losing those games and felt that we could’ve won,” Plax said.
“But the experience was great just being able to play with the team and it felt good to be back on the court again,” he said.
The team had a chance to redeem themselves in the playoffs but came up short, losing to Santa Clara again, 65-45.
Plax had a team-high 19 points.
“The tournament was kind of hard on me because I was not only playing but I was also the team coach and manager,” Plax said.
“It was tough to focus on coaching the team and staying on top,” he said.
The team was also fortunate enough to have jerseys ready for the tournament.
“We struggled to find someone to help us with getting jerseys since we had no funding from ASULV and we were paying out of pocket. So that was hard on all of us,” Plax said.
Luckily, La Verne graduate student Johnathan Lee manages the website twentymiles.com and does t-shirt designs, jerseys and screen printing.
“He knew we had a financial hardship and worked out a deal for us for this tournament,” Plax said.
“He really helped us out and made us jerseys to represent LV,” he said.
Next semester, Plax plans to change up the coordination of the league.
Plax says that although this may be a league for students, he feels like it can be more for people that are dedicated in playing the sport.
It is an easy medium with intramurals and athletics.
“This club is a good opportunity to bring the game of basketball to students who may not have the time commitment or skills to play for the school but do want to play competitively,” Furutan said.
In January, they hope to reach out to people about the team and hope to organize two teams of ten.
“I hope that next semester more people will sign up for the team and just come out,” Okereke said.
Then in the first week of February, they plan to have tryouts that last about three to four hours.
“I felt that things didn’t work out as planned because it cost a bit of money and not everyone had the money for it,” Plax said.
“So hopefully ASULV will be able to fund us so it’s not as tough on our players,” he said.
In February, CSUN will be having another tournament that Leo Hoops League plan to participate in.
“Next year we’re going to try and participate in more tournaments and do our own one in April,” Plax said.
With high hopes for next semester, Plax and the rest of the team hope to not only bring students who love basketball together but bring something new to La Verne.
“I love the game of basketball itself. The different skills you need and the whole thing about teamwork,” Furutan said.
“I love to play the game and don’t know how to necessarily describe my love for it. It just brings me together with people who love the sport just as much as I do,” he said.
Jolene Nacapuy can be reached at jolene.nacapuy@laverne.edu.
