Henderson’s intramural team was faster than Beta Black. They were stronger than Beta Black. They were taller than Beta Black, and they could jumper high as well. But there was one weapon Beta Black did have. A weapon that has been terrorizing OBU intramural leagues for four years: Buck Gilbert’s mouth.
Gilbert, a senior from Mountain Home, Ark., played basketball competitively in high school, but decided just to play for fun in college. He has played intramural basketball with the men of Beta Beta for the last four years.
Gilbert’s team, Beta Black, had an exciting season this year. In the Upper League championship game, star player Eric Braeuer, who doubles as assistant coach for the OBU men’s team, hit a half-court buzzer-beater to win the game. This sent Beta Black into the intramural Battle of the Ravine against Henderson.
This is the first year that the two schools have worked together to host an intramural Battle of the Ravine, and the Reddies have been in control so far. Henderson’s team won in both the men’s and women’s editions for flag football and looked to dominate in basketball as well.
“They’re a good team,” Gilbert said. “They’re a lot bigger than us. Coming in, they knew they were going to smoke us.”
While the Henderson team did win the game, they didn’t utterly dominate Beta Black. The Ouachita team was able to hit enough three pointers to remain competitive, but the sheer size and athleticism of the Henderson team gave them the win.
While Beta Black might not have won, they still accomplished their goal for the game.
Gilbert said, “We just like to have a good time.”
– By Caleb Byrd, sports writer
