The winter months at BSM mark a time for a variety of different sports, but for some, there is only one thing that comes to mind. The BSM intramural basketball league, also known as IBA. With IBA canceled last year due to COVID-19, students and teachers were eager to get this season underway.

BSM’s intramural basketball league is a three-on-three league that is composed of 16 teams, with each team consisting of 5-7 players, grades 10-12. Games are played twice a week in the Haben after school from December through February. Teams are made up of both teachers and students with student teams paired up against teacher teams as well as other student teams. “It’s fun to play against the teachers because you don’t always see that side of them in the classroom,” senior Tenekay Johnson Jr. said.

In previous years, IBA consisted of two different leagues. This year, IBA is doing just one league with a pool play format. “Usually we have a competitive league and a non competitive league but everybody wanted to be in the same league so we are doing it like a pool play league and everybody’s playing everybody,” BSM PE teacher and league commissioner Mike Johnston said.

Another new addition this year is a new league commissioner. Commissioner is responsible for overseeing the league, enforcing rules and determining matchups. Former IBA commissioner and assistant athletic director, Mark Snell, has passed the torch to Johnston. Students also enjoy the more relaxed and calm environment IBA offers than typical highschool basketball. “It’s a lot more chill than high school basketball which makes it more fun,” senior Max Benning said.

The one notorious rule IBA is known for is that current BSM basketball players are not allowed to play in the league. This opens up an opportunity for students and teachers who may not have much experience playing basketball or previously played basketball to freshen up their skills for the season. IBA also allows for students to do other extracurriculars while still getting the opportunity to play basketball 1-2 times a week. “I like it because I get to play basketball but don’t have the time commitment of highschool basketball,” Johnson Jr. said.

IBA teams take the season very seriously. Many of the teams along with the league have an official instagram account in which they post game day times and results as well as roster and team updates. “It’s very, you know, official business like we’re taking this very seriously as we should,” Johnston said.

The end goal for all teams is to win the IBA championship, which is at the end of February. “Bookie Warriors is gonna come out on top,” Benning said.