Glenview’s Springman Wildcats Go Undefeated to Win Bulls Fest 3v3 Tournament

The 2025 Bulls Fest weekend brought more than 15,000 people in the city of Chicago together for two days, as the guests experienced free access to youth clinics, food trucks, meet-and-greets with former and current Bulls players, and most notably a 3v3 tournament for all ages. With ages ranging from 8-9 year olds all the way up to 35+, it was an all-inclusive tournament that had tons of action. However, one of the teams that stood out came from a suburb all the way in Glenview, IL. 

     On Saturday, the teams took off for pool play starting at 9:30 am. The Rim Reapers, hailing from an hour northwest of the United Center, looked to make their mark as they took on the RB X ESD Elite team. There were 90 total teams (age 12-13) split into 9 tournaments, so there would be 9 total winners for the age group. The rules were simple: 25 minute games, but if you score 20 points, it’s over. It was half court street yard style 3-on-3 basketball, so it was a bit unprecedented for a team from the suburbs. Nonetheless, the Reapers defeated them 20-11 as they got to the point total before the clock ran out. 

     The Reapers consisted of four players: Cade Verber and Kavi Garg (Guards), Eli Ganzorig (G/F) and Landon Gauer (F/C). All four of them played for their middle school basketball team, the Springman Wildcats. The Wildcats went 13-3 in the regular season and advanced to the postseason. There, they took down Wilmette in a tight game. Gauer was able to knock down a last minute free throw to put the Wildcats up by one. Then, they got a stop and Verber hit 2 shots from the line in the closing seconds to help them prevail to the Championship. There, they took on an undefeated Gemini team, and ended up falling to them. Despite the loss, the Wildcats had a very successful season and will look to run it back next year. 

     After a tough championship loss, the Reapers’ win against the RB X ESD Elite team rekindled their competitive spirit. Wildcats Head Coach, Coach Kieronski was on site to cheer on his players Saturday, as they battled through the early stages of the tournament. The Reapers (1-0) took on Air Attack (1-0) in their second game. Verber led the team in scoring in that one, as the Reapers got the win with the same score, 20-11. Gauer and Garg were able to pick up some points as well, as Ganzorig helped hustle and make the outlet passes. Eli is able to play any position he needs to, which helps him stay versatile, and impact the game in multiple ways. 

    Now, the squad was feeling themselves with a 2-0 start. They would play one last game on Saturday to determine their seeding for Sunday’s bracket. They would play DG Wolfpack (0-1) in the final game of the day. Everyone got in on the action in that matchup, as the Reapers routed them en route to a 20-4 victory.  In the first game, Verber, Garg and Ganzorig all made two three-pointers, but hadn’t made once since.  This is because their plan was to get to the basket and finish at the rim. If that failed, they would kick it out and take a mid-range jumper. That had worked on Saturday, but Garg and them knew they would have to switch up their game play going into the Elimination Games on Sunday. 

     After noticing that other teams had been watching their games and learning how they play, Garg got his team together. He told them all that they needed to start shooting more, or the defense would start to play back on them and not let them get inside. Out of 90 (12-13 year old) teams, 8 of them had scored 20 points in all their games, including the Reapers. They would get a 1st round bye on Saturday, and their first game would be at 11 AM. They would play the winner of DG Wolfpack (0-3) against Air Jordan Elite (0-3). DG Wolfpack would battle, and they would earn the win 20-13. The Reapers (3-0) had already played DG Wolfpack (1-3), and got the victory 20-4. However, they seemed a lot tougher the second time out. They played tight defense and kept the game close in the first half of the game. The Reapers called timeout, and discussed how to pick up the victory. They shot more mid-range and forced the Wolfpack defense to run and the tired them out. They would end up getting the win 18-12 on time, the only game they didn’t score 20 and end it right then and there. 

     They would have another rematch in the semifinals, as they took on RB X ESD Elite again. Their only loss was the Reapers, as they came into the game 3-1. The four kids agreed that the RB X ESD Elite game was the hardest team they played in pool play. Garg immediately leaned into the new play style, and knocked down a three. The Reapers never looked back, as the other squad was unable to keep up with the fast play style the Reapers had. The final score was 20-9, and they said they played their “best game yet”, against the toughest team in the tournament so far. 

     With the win, the Championship Game was set for 12:45 PM. The Reapers (5-0) would take on Swagger Elite (4-1) in the Finals. All the players were in on the action at the start, as the Reapers took a 5-1 lead early. Swagger Elite wouldn’t go away easily however, as they played competitively and kept it close at the start. Then, a few straight points helped make the game 19-10 in favor of the Reapers. Swagger Elite made one shot, before Landon Gauer found a way to end it. He shot a floater from in front of the free throw line and sinked it to give the Rim Reapers the Championship victory. 

     Out of all 90 teams, the Reapers were fifth in points per game with an astounding 19.67. They had a point differential of +60, one of the top totals of any team competing in the tournament. Gauer, Veber, Garg and Ganzorig relaxed for the next two hours, as they ate food, played some Bulls Fest challenges and talked about the tournament. At 2:30, they headed to the big court, where the awards were being handed out. The players all got special “2025 Bulls Fest Champion” hats and medals handed to them by Bulls legend, Horace Grant.