Pictured Shirts Illustrated Reloaded (left) and Heapsters. Heapsters (Bar Louie) were Division A champs, Shirts Reloaded - Division B champs. Photos by Mel Ferrand
Windy City Athletic Association's (WCAA) Women's Basketball League hosted its playoffs and championship games April 4. With the final buzzer came the close of a record-setting season. An unprecedented number of teams competed in recreational 'B' and competitive 'A' division play from early December to the end of March.
During the semifinals, No. 1 seed Condie Management, a team dynasty that has been around since the league's inception, was de-throned in a huge upset by newcomers, Wildcats. Seeded 4th in the 9 team 'B' division, the Wildcats were unable to maintain their momentum and ultimately, the championship crown was claimed by another longstanding team, Shirts Illustrated Reloaded with a final score of 57-35. Shirts Illustrated has played in the league under various incarnations for at least eight years and has made it to the finals in all of the last three.
Similar to the recreation division, the 'A'" division veterans beat the novices as the second seed Heapsters brought the season's close to a climax in the last few moments of the championship. Within a few points from beginning to end, the game could have gone either way. However, in a final burst of energy, Heapsters won 56-52 against the brand new Young Guns, a powerhouse who had only lost one game in their inaugural season. Undoubtedly the Young Guns will return next year in the quest to obtain the championship title that narrowly slipped through their hands.
Hoops Classic
Chicago Hoops Classic XIV celebrates its 14th year as the world's pre-eminent basketball tournament for gay men and women April 17-18. It is the longest running and largest annual b-ball tournament for gays and lesbians in the world. With more than 30 teams expected this year, 2004 promises to extend CHC's record of significant yearly growth.
This year's tournament is at the University of Illinois-Chicago. See www.WCAA.net .