In Photos: Crimson Madness Returns
By Zadoc I.N. GeeThe return of Harvard Crimson basketball competition at Lavietes Pavilion for the first time since pre-pandemic kicked off on Oct. 15 as both the men’s and women’s programs battled their teammates in two intrasquad scrimmages following an assortment of pre-game activities and food.
Junior Chris Ledlum launches t-shirts into the stands as players are introduced onto the floor before the games begin.
Half of the women’s team huddles as they prepare to hit the court again.
Junior guard McKenzie E. Forbes shoots a jumper over first-year guard Elena Rodriguez. Later on, in her season and career debut for the Crimson on Nov. 12, Forbes dropped 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists against Massachusetts.
Crimson faithful pack the stands and cheer on the teams and Harvard’s dance team from the stands prior to their halftime performance.
Sophomore forward Lindsey S. Lawson connects from the charity stripe on her second free throw attempt.
First-year guard Elle E. Stauffer fires from three as Rodriguez contests.
Junior guard Idan C. Tretout pulls way back for a narrowly-missed monster slam as sophomore forward Justice U. Ajogbor and senior forward Kale Catchings watch during the men’s team warm up.
Senior co-captains Catchings and Mason T. Forbes battle it out in the post, waiting on the rebound off Ledlum’s shot.
Harvard’s cheerleaders cheer from the baseline mid-scrimmage.
Ledlum goes up to slam home a dunk off the pass from senior point guard Spencer Freedman on the fast-break as Tretout and junior guard Luka Sakota stand back.
Tretout lays up an acrobatic shot through contact against Ledlum, maintaining body control and finishing the basket, as Freedman battles Katchings under the basket.
Sakota pulls a three-point jumper from the right wing over the contest from first-year guard Tyler Simon. Sakota’s range has looked good in the last few games, as he buried buzzer-beating threes in both the Nov. 13 game against Iona and the Nov. 24 game against Colgate to send each contest into overtime.
Tretout fades away on a jumper as Sakota guards him closely in the paint.
The stands erupt in anticipation of t-shirts being launched into the crowd in a break from the scrimmaging. It’s safe to say players and fans are both excited that Harvard basketball is finally back.
The women’s program is currently 2-4 in non-conference play after its thrilling 82-79 victory over Boston University on Saturday, while the men’s team moves to 5-2 after last Wednesday's overtime win against Colgate and a great comeback win over the Northeastern Huskies on Saturday night.
—Staff photographer and writer Zing Gee can be reached at zing.gee@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @Zing401.