Nine teams, 156 tamales and a roaring crowd is what made up the Christmas Basketball tournament.

The Spanish Club sold tamales at the basketball tournament and there was a total of 18 basketball teams playing throughout the three day event. The tournament included a 3-point contest and a wide variety of teams with different skill levels.

“We ended up selling at least 13 dozen tamales total,” senior Yzabel Salazar said. “We had 10 dozen pre ordered and three to five dozen more were ordered at the tournament. It was crazy because that is like at least 156 tamales made.”

The concession stand was in full swing, but business was slow.

“I worked the concession stand all day each of the three days that we hosted the tournament,” sophomore Colby Menefee said. “Everyday seemed longer than the last and even more boring than the last. We didn’t make as much as we hoped because there weren’t as many people there watching as we had been told to expect.”

Junior Dirk Kilgore competed in the 3-point contest against 27 other people and got third place.

“It was really cool getting to participate in the three-point contest because I got to have fun and beat a lot of other people,” Kilgore said. “I love doing cool contest like dunk contest and three-point contest because I like competition and showing off my skills.”

The Buffalo team placed fifth at the tournament and they played six games total going 3-3.

“I got to play every game, all game and never got called out of the game,” Kilgore said. “Yeah, it was really tiring, but it was really worth it because I love my team and I love to play.”

The boys played two days after Christmas day, and they only had one practice day before the tournament.

“I was really proud of my boys because they were a little out of shape from being on break and not doing much and they still tried their hardest and gave it their all,” coach Brian Pauler said. “It is an honor to coach so a great team, even though we placed fifth I wouldn’t have done anything different because they did their best. The boys played some really tough teams and I think they did great.”

Pauler said as a coach he always expects to go 6-0 but he wasn’t disappointed at all when they went 3-3.

“My boys played really good and I could never be disappointed in them with the results we got,” Pauler said. “I love being around these guys because they are a fun group. There guys are funny and a hardworking group of boys. These boys are the best group of boys I could’ve asked for; they never quit during practice or games and that’s what I love about them.”