“Physical play” were the two words that best described the 2011 Iowa Games’ 3-on-3 basketball tournament. In the 18-and-up age division, the Stunnas from Storm Lake won the women’s title and Hoops! I Did It Again from Oxford won the men’s title.

Tournament rules dictated that games run 15 minutes or stop when a team reached 15 points. Each basket made inside the arch was worth one point; perimeter shots were worth two. The games were played on only one half of the basketball court.

Two teams competed in the women’s tournament: the Ames Shooting Stars from Madrid, and the Stunnas, which was composed of Dana Lehner, Tara Lehner, Alex Lynott, and Krystal Pappas. The Stunnas won in a best-of-three format, winning both games 10-8 and 15-7.

Even though this was the team’s first time at the Iowa Games, they had the experience to win together.

“This is the first time that we played in a tournament,” Pappas said. “We have known each other for about six years, and then we picked up [Lynott] a few years ago.”

In the first game, things started slowly, with both teams struggling to make baskets. Inside play was very physical, and neither team really wanted to take long jump shots. The Stunnas took the lead in the last few minutes and were able to hold on to win. They opened up the next game 13-2 and cruised to the gold medal.

“It was a little bit easier this game than last game,” Dana Lehner said. “The other team got tired.”

Lehner was an All-American when she played at Briar Cliff University and is now a college coach. She has no plans on slowing down her game.

“I am trying to work on getting better at staying in shape,” she said. “I want to still be playing when I get into my 40s and 50s.”

Over on the men’s side, it was Hoops! I Did It Again defeating Pitt’s Lawn Service from Ames in the championship game. The final score was 15-5. Josh Hogue, Larry Day, Alex Novak and Kyle Schumaker all received the gold medal for their win.

“We missed some shots, but overall we were pretty solid,” Day said.

Hogue played at Iowa Wesleyan and was on fire from the perimeter all day. In one of the earlier games, Hogue helped his team get up to a 10-0 start in the first two minutes.

“I began to take it seriously when I was about 8 or 9,” Hogue said on practicing his skill. “I spent 15 years just shooting every day.”

The play was chippy throughout, as there were no referees and players were trusted to call their own fouls.

“Playing for a championship is a pretty big deal,” Day said. “Sometimes it will get a little scrappy, but I think it turned out all right.”

Brandon Pitts, who played in the post for most of the game with Pitt’s Lawn Service, was happy with how the team played and the silver medal it earned.

“We played hard. We just kind of got worn out,” Pitts said. “The team that won the championship was really good. We played our best, so we are okay with second.”