Slam Dunk Your March Game-Day Bash

SLAM DUNK

YOUR MARCH GAME-DAY BASH! By Tracy Ellison

KEEP FUN AT THE TOP OF EVERY VIEWING PARTY LIST

PARTY DAY GAME PLAN

#1 SET THE DATE Start with when to host a party. Are you feeling first-week/first-round vibes so that all the teams are in? Or do you want to gather family and friends to see the final two duke it out? If your alma mater is in the tournament, make it a day to root for a team near and dear to your heart. Consider who’s coming. Rival fans? Newbies? In-it-to-win-its? Plan your party accordingly and keep fun first and foremost on your party list.

can’t lose! Compile a set of trivia questions with game and team stats. Or award the best (or the maddest) dressed guest with top honors for Fan of the Year. And don’t forget to pump up the party with a playlist that caters to jock jams and create a musical backdrop for all the jeers and cheers to come. Let’s get this party started!

#2 HAVE A BALL WITH DECORATIONS With all the ways you can play up a basketball theme, we say go for it! Use game brackets as invitations and have guests fill them out before arriving so you can start off the party with a basketball pool. Think about decorating with black, white and orange (a basketball neutral color scheme is always a safe bet). Or, if your peeps are all in the same court, drench your digs with team colors and go full-blown fan mode. Get basketball-printed napkins, cups, plates and streamers. And don’t forget to deck yourself out in themed wear, too. Anything from teamcolor jerseys to keep-the-peace black-and-white referee stripes work for game-day dressing.

#3 ROUND TABLE Go full-circle-moment loopy and serve up only dribble-fit nibbles that mimic mini basketballs. From non-regulation sriracha sausage cheddar balls and feta-stuffed falafels to an all-time favorite like mac-and-cheese balls. Some desserts got game, too: mounded orange-iced cupcakes, basketball-patterned candies, league-style cake balls and orange-dyed popcorn balls – get your imagination rolling! Just stick a pick in these edible little rounds and start party popping. Even the ice cubes play ball. Use fun round tray shapes to get the drinks in on the action. Just remember to keep the food and drinks simple and prep beforehand. After all, the focus should be on the game and not tending to a hot stove in the kitchen while the shot clock’s running.

#4 FUN AND GAMES Get guests fired up for fun the minute they walk through the door. Toss around some foam basketballs just for pickup kicks. Set up a mini hoop over the garbage can and get a two-fer: an instant game (with a prize for the most trash sunk) and garbage cleanup without getting off the couch – you

#5 SCREEN TIME Make sure you have plenty of seats for everyone with an unobstructed view of the game. Bring in extra chairs, beanbags and basketballthemed pillows. Whether winning or losing, fans will surely show your furniture some enthusiasm, so prepare to roll with the punches. Give them a comfy place to land after jumping up and down, and throw in a few stress balls to keep the tension at bay. Early in the tournament, two games might run simultaneously, so consider adding another TV screen to the party area so no one misses a single play. Create a chill zone and nobody will be sweating it except the players on the court.

If your goal is to get in on the madness of the season and stir up some fun, then use these tips as your jumping off point for hosting a winning party. Get started now and beat the buzzer to opening game day!