Libertyville High School is a school of many traditions. From the senior water balloon fight to the Homecoming and Turnabout walkouts, the ‘Ville is known for its unique customs. But starting at 6 p.m. in the main gym on chilly winter nights, you can hear the sound of hard-working athletes battling like gladiators in a coliseum. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of intramural basketball.

There’s nothing quite like going home after school and getting your swag ready. Headband, shooting sleeves, leggings, and flashy kicks … all features of only the greatest ball players. If you wore this nonsense out in public, people would certainly give you a funny look, and even Russell Westbrook would be skeptical. The players have worked long and hard for this moment; most players haven’t touched a basketball in months, but rest assured: this an intentional, effective strategy.

The players might show up late on a day-to-day basis, but as Coach Schinto would say, “I’m just glad you’re here.” Or they don’t show up at all … and your team is either forced to forfeit or play with a man down. The four-man team is at quite the disadvantage, but win and it would be the greatest upset since David downed Goliath.

As is the case with any professional sport these days, there has been quite a bit controversy in the 2016 season. The gameplay really stretches the limits of the word “basketball” sometimes. Occasionally, you might confuse the event with a wrestling match. The last two minutes of the game are the biggest hack-fest since Snowden’s WikiLeaks scandal. Choosing referees that are already on rosters within the league couldn’t possibly lead to any issues, could it?

The crowd during intramurals is truly one of a kind. The Jungle really lives up to its name; the fan base consists of rival teams waiting for their chance and the occasional coach, dressed in his classy suit & tie and clipboard at hand, who has no knowledge of basketball whatsoever.

You know it’s telling when the room is more lit than the crowd is. Nonetheless, the fans give the players energy. The energy the players need to compete at a high level and prepare for the biggest stage: the Turnabout assembly. Or now, rather, the crowd prepares the players to sit in the stands just like everyone else on that Friday afternoon.

Although some people decided it would be a good idea to remove LHS’s greatest tradition from the Turnabout assembly, intramural basketball will not be forgotten. It was thoughtful, however, for the LHS administration to look out for their trusted teachers; you wouldn’t want the intramural champs to embarrass the staff in front of the whole school, would you? The sprinkler system might go off and ruin the whole spectacle after it starts raining threes. Now, the championship trophy is simply the glory of getting triple-digit likes on your squad’s celebratory Instagram post.

As of when this is written and when this issue is released, the regular season will be complete. Tonight, a champion will be named. After the victors receive their prize, they will be the next names added to a long list of champions on the walls and in the halls of LHS.