Two teams waged a gender battle in the Salvation Army Basketball League March 13 at Prairie Park Elementary. The all-boys Jazz took on the all-girls Sting, in a game that proved fun and frustrating for both teams.

Sting struggled with turnovers and mental mistakes leading to multiple fast breaks for the Jazz. On the other hand, the Jazz often struggled in the half-court set against the Sting’s tough defense. With their post players heads taller than the girls, the Jazz made up for their struggles by grabbing most of the rebounds and earning second and third looks at the basket.

One of the Jazz leading scorers, Britton Sehroeder, enjoyed his team’s style of offense, which had a run-and-gun type of flair.

“I really like the fast pace of the game,” Sehroeder said of basketball in general. “In this league, anyone can play and it makes it really fun.”

After Tucker Brown started the scoring for the Jazz, the floodgates opened and the points poured in. Sehroeder closed off a 10-0 first quarter run with two fast break buckets of his own, including a Mario Chalmers-esque floater he released between two Sting defenders.

Sehroeder, who has played since the age of six, was joined on the Jazz by many other experienced players, which showed through in their teamwork and efficiency. Guard Alex Twombley recently finished the Hoopster Basketball League’s season and wasn’t quite ready for the off season. Both players showed off their skills driving through the lane for layups or quick dishes to open teammates like Will Simmons, Dayton Valentine or Brian Wright.

Jazz guard Alex Twombley squeezes between two Sting players looking for an open teammate. The Jazz defeated the Sting March 13 at Prairie Park Elementary.

There was plenty of experience on the Sting side of the ball as well. Courtney Parker, who led the Sting in points and shots attempted, has played for five years with Lawrence Parks and Recreation and other leagues.

“I really like the competition in basketball,” Parker said.

Her teammate in the backcourt, Summer Frantz, also showed her skills at the point guard spot, either in finding her own shot or looking for an open teammate, such as Ciara Carey, who manned the post area during her time in the game. Frantz and Parker combined for the majority of Sting’s offensive output.

In the second quarter, the two guards took the advice of their coaches and teammates on the bench who kept shouting for them shoot the ball. Parker opened the quarter with a long-distance bucket just inside the three-point line. It wouldn’t be enough to stop the Jazz, who stormed to a 23-4 halftime lead and continued in the same vain during the second half.

More Jazz players got in on the scoring during the second half, as the substitutions came more frequently and the players knew how to get the shots they wanted. In a play that was repeated throughout the game, guard Asher Hannon jumped in a passing lane to steal the ball and led the fast break to finish a layup at the other end. Eventually, the fast pace wore on both teams, especially in the fourth quarter as the game slid to a close.

The Jazz may have won the game convincingly, but players from both teams, the coaches and parents were all on the same level after the game. That is, they all had to carry chairs out of the gym per the officials’ request as the school closed down for the night.