Students, staff go head-to-head in March Madness tournament

With March Madness making its debut, Clayton Valley students and staff are showing excitement to play basketball and let loose. In total, there will be 17 games, and the winning student team will face the staff team. The event began March 17 and takes place in the main gym during lunch periods. 

Each team comprises six students and an optional coach, if the team chooses. Teams go head-to-head in a basketball tournament that runs through March 26, when the final is played. The winning student team will also get to go to De La Salle to play their winning team.

The ASB organization has worked very hard to promote the event, secure 16 teams, and handle many behind-the-scenes tasks. ASB received support from past members through past instructions on event planning and step-by-step guidance, making the process easier.

With this help, ASB member Carter Owens-McClain said they did not have too much difficulty setting the event up.

“We mostly just had to get teams to sign up, talk to administration to clear the gym, and make sure everything was properly advertised,” Owens-McClain said.

All players have put in time and effort to prepare for the games. Tournaments like these are not always centered on winning a prize or anything grand. This tournament is designed to allow students to have fun with their friends in a sport they enjoy.

The March Madness basketball tournament is one of Clayton Valley's most popular extracurricular events. The team that wins the student bracket will face a team of school staffers. (Photo by Leilani Valderrama/Talon Staff)

Junior Tavion Stafford from team LT Elite remarked that this tournament let him play in a more relaxed atmosphere. 

“I signed up because I wanted to play basketball with my friends and against them in a way that isn't so much pressure like how it is during the high school season.”

Stafford added that he is excited to redeem himself from his performance in the previous year.

“I'm most excited to play familiar faces and bounce back from my disappointing performance in the second round last year, and hopefully win it all this year with the astounding team that we have.”

This competition not only lets students let loose but also the staff. Leah Cash, also known as one of CV’s college counselors on campus and a member of the staff team, gave her reasoning for why she personally signed up. Cash, who played in a women’s professional league based in Oakland, said she joins the tournament every year because she enjoys connecting with students in a different environment.

“It’s fun to show the kids a side of us outside of our positions at school.”