The Royals emerge as champions after surviving 'crazy' first weekend

RIGHT: Steven Brown dunks during Saturday's 3-on-3 basketball competition at Hillcrest Park.

BELOW: Kevin Smith dribbles past Joe Leiker during Saturday's semifinals.

Photographs by LISA LAUCK

The Capital-Journal

By Tiffany L. Woods

The Capital-Journal

The basketball courts at Hillcrest Park looked a little different this weekend than last weekend.

The heat wasn't as fierce and there weren't as many 3-on-3 basketball players.

"Last week was crazy," said Kama Lightfoot, Sunflower State Games sport coordinator. "They played from like 3 to 11 p.m."

When all of the madness ended one week later, only a team called The Royals was left unscathed. The Royals defeated That Team to win the 3-on-3 championship.

Lightfoot, who kept score, said the weekend was going according to plan.

Valance Jones, State Games basketball commissioner, said a co- worker told him about the Games and he wanted to get involved.

"This is a nice thing for Topeka," he said. "I just volunteered to help out and do the best I could in the community."

Dan Barnes, 18, said he participated in the Games to show off his on-the-court skills.

"My friend needed a guy for his team, and I wanted to dominate the court," said Barnes, a Seaman High School student.

When asked if he cared about winning a gold medal, Barnes said, "Of course."

"We don't want the gold, we're in it for the silver," he said jokingly to a teammate.