Both Communications athletes and spectators alike gathered in the Wall High School gym Wednesday night at 6 p.m. for the 12th annual 3v3 basketball tournament. The event was hosted by Fitness teacher Ginny Clevenger and the Class of 2017, which Clevenger also advises.

“The 3v3 started in 2005, prior to that we did a student-faculty basketball game, but we switched it to 3v3 in 2005,” Clevenger said about the event.

Fourteen teams competed in the tournament, which was played through a series of simultaneous, short basketball games. In the end, the Neon Yellow team, consisting of seniors Shane Nolan of Bradley Beach, Louis Avena of Middletown, and Biology teacher Jeanine Gomez, won the title of first place. The Neon Yellow time won their final game over the Turquoise team with a buzzer beating shot by Nolan.

Nolan was ecstatic to leave his own mark on the history of the 3v3 basketball tournament.

“To win 3v3 at the buzzer for my senior year was an ending I didn’t even think Hollywood could have written. It was truly an amazing experience,” Nolan said.

While sophomore Katrina Eggleston of Eatontown, a first time competitor, didn’t win the tournament, she said that the experience was still worthwhile.

“It was just a fun thing to do with my friends,” Eggleston said. “Not living near them can make hanging out challenging, and the tournament was something we could all do together, and it was a lot of fun”.

Other first time players agreed, such as freshman Kevin Clark of Spring Lake, who “liked that it kind of brought everyone together on a Wednesday night”.

Nevertheless, Clevenger believes that students and faculty continually enjoy the event.

“I love giving CHS kids the opportunity to go do something they might not ever get the chance to do because they don’t play whatever the sport is,” Clevenger said.

Photo credits to Sallie Haas.