On most Friday nights throughout the winter, basketball dominates the world of high school sports. Signs are made, fans come out to support and school rivalries are forged on the court. However, for some basketball players, playing in the spotlight in front of the whole school is not their ultimate goal. Many students are perfectly content with playing the game without all this pomp, and circumstance by simply playing pick-up basketball in the Friday night league. Following the always competitive house basketball recreation league season, many casual basketball players around Arlington who struggle to cope with the season ending use Friday night league as a perfect outlet to continue playing basketball with friends. Starting in April, teams of boys and girls alike play semi competitive games without the restrictions of varsity players being banned. This leads to high levels of play as basketball players of all ages and sizes prove who is the best team in Arlington.
After a long five day week of grueling tests, quizzes and homework, many students choose Friday nights as a time to relax from the stressors of school. However, not all students follow this same line of thinking. For many high schoolers, once the sun sets the real competition begins.
“I like the Friday night league because it is not like something I have ever done and allows me to play with and against people who I could not in the rec league,” senior Mary Helsper said.
An advantage to the Friday Night league is that teams range from all grade levels and unlike house basketball in the winter, there are no rules banning travel players from joining or co-ed teams from being formed. This encourages people of all ages to form teams with their friends and raises the competition between rival teams. Despite some teams resorting to half court shots and other shenanigans during their games, many teams have their eyes on the prize of making a run at the league championship.
“I can see us winning the league, we have everything it take to be a championship contender,” senior Davis Hamlin said.
These Friday Night games are dominated by former travel players and varsity basketball ballers, so it is important to have a strong core of players to be able to compete with the rest of the league. Every contender has these role players that put them over the top.
“I’m definitely not a star player but I can contribute a lot to the team,” Helsper said.
All of the teams have different strategies for success with some tactics working better than others. While some teams attempt to shoot their way back into the game by catapulting half court shots and trick plays, other teams tend to keep their game plans closer to the vest.
“Our strategy is to get more balls in the basket than the other team,” Hamlin said.
No matter what ploys are being used, it is clear that the drive to win is paramount to everything else.
Even the basketball squad’s that do not win as much as other teams, it is clear that Friday Night basketball is a great chance for all involved to play the sport they love.
“All of the same awesome refs from rec league are there and it is more player led rather than coaches and parents,” Helsper said.
When it comes down to it, everyone plays for the love of the game with their friends which is exactly the goal of sports. Win or lose, come spring time, basketball players all around Arlington are in the spotlight come Friday night.
