The net swished as a player from The Goon Squad scored a three-point shot for the first time in their season. Junior Beckett Linden said the crowd erupted in applause.
For some athletes including Linden, recreational basketball acts as a fun getaway. He said he enjoys playing basketball every Sunday with his friends for their team The Goon Squad.
“[Playing] basketball freely without having to worry about any coaches, it’s just fun,” Linden said.
This is his first year playing recreational basketball. Previously during his freshmen and sophomore year, he said he played basketball for the school. According to him, he was tired of the school team using him as a scout dummy, or practice player, as opposed to being the lead scorer for The Goon Squad.
“I just played freely, and for the first time in a while, and I actually was allowed to shoot the ball, which was very fun,” Linden said.
While Linden just plays recreationally, Junior Max Moser plays for BVNW varsity basketball but also coaches The Goon Squad.
“I’d say it’s very different, definitely two different styles [of] basketball. I’m trying to help my team get a little better at basketball, but I’m just letting them have fun,” Moser said.
To help his team succeed, Moser employs what he learns while at school basketball practices while still letting his players have fun.
“I try to use some of the stuff that Coach Ihm (BVNW basketball coach) gives us to give to them. I kind of just let them play and have fun,” Moser said. “If they’re doing anything horrible, I’ll let them know and just get them back on the right track.”
Junior Will Foster is a part of the Globe Trotters and said he enjoys the rivalries recreational basketball brings. According to Foster, two of his team’s rivals are the Wildcats and The Goon Squad. He said the game was intense and in the week leading up to it with lots of trash talk.
“Our game against the Wildcats, it was getting a little chippy,” Foster said. “I think both teams wanted to win a lot because there’d been a lot of talk going back and forth the whole week.”
Linden said his team beat the Cupcake Academy, a senior Northwest team. He said leading up to the game there was a lot of trash talk because they had all played football together. Additionally, there was a bet on the game. Linden said he bet his friend Luke Wolverton $20 he would score more than six points, a bet he won.
To keep track of these rivalries and rankings, senior Daniel Munro, who has been playing on a recreational basketball team since his freshman year, runs an Instagram account following the teams. On the account, Munro ranks the Blue Valley Northwest and Blue Valley Southwest junior and senior recreational teams, as well as MVPs of the week. He said the recreational league gave him a chance to play basketball for fun.
“I like playing with my friends. I [have liked] basketball my whole life. So being able to play with my friends and a controlled setting with refs and a scoreboard, I just find that fun,” Munro said.
He began the Instagram account this year to rank both teams and the Most Valuable Players from each team which can get competitive.
“[League is] pretty competitive, especially when you play a team from your school. I mean, you want to be though, I don’t think anyone really likes losing too much.” Munro said.
Overall, Foster said he enjoys playing basketball with his friends and recommends people join it.
“You get to play against people you know, and you get to play with your friends and it’s just a fun experience,” Foster said.
