SilverHoops 25 a real scorcher
Photo by JOSH MCDONALD Dunk contest winner Garrett Wendt throws down a vicious one-handed jam.
11th-12th grade coed champs LATE
Photo by JOSH MCDONALD Mackenzie Dire makes her move toward the basket.
9th-10th grade girls champs UPTOP
Women’s 18-30 champs Heart Breakers and Hip Breakers
11th-12th grade boys champs Chubby Chasers
7th-8th grade girls champs Hoop Your Pants
Sportsmanship winners Hoops I Did It Again
Adult coed champs 3 Duds and a Stud
Photo by JOSH MCDONALD Cade Finaly (white shirt) goes one-on-one with Kenny Harris. Harris’s team, the Blue Devils, would go on to win the battle of the local teams.
Men’s 30+ champs Francis and Friends
Sportsmanship winners Spokane Shockers
Boys 3rd-4th grade champs No Bully Zone
Photo by JOSH MCDONALD Radley Groth dribbles past his opponent while teammate Aaron Hudson cuts toward the basket.
Boys 5th-6th grade champions Rise of the Guardians.
Girls 5th-6th grade champions Alley Oops, There it is.
Boys 9th-10th grade champs Beastie Balls
Mens 18-30 champs Back to Back (about to be Back to Back to Back as it was their third consecutive championship).
Girls 11th-12th grade champs What is Basketball
Boys 7th-8th grade champs Da Bus Drivers
KELLOGG — The 25th anniversary of the SilverHoops 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament was this past weekend and the event’s silver anniversary definitely had its highs and lows.
On one of the hottest weekends of the year, 115 teams battled it out on Saturday to determine who got the top seeds in Sunday’s single elimination tournament, which was one of the new changes that was unveiled during the landmark event.
Even though the number of teams competing this year was slightly lower than last year’s (136), organizers were still thrilled with how everything turned out.
“I think the weekend went really well,” Silver Valley Chamber director Mallory Phillips said. “We switched things up with pool play on Saturday and most people seemed to like it. There were some who weren’t sure about it at first, but they came around.”
Each game typically lasts around 30 minutes with teams playing to 20. Every 45 minutes, a court would have a new set of participants.
Saturday afternoon played host to the annual slam dunk competition, which thrilled the crowd as five tournament competitors put on a dunking clinic.
In the end, it was local baller Garrett Wendt that once again took the crown of slam dunk champion.
The event had its biggest misstep when the tournament software wrongly-seeded several teams Saturday night, which led to a confusing and frustrating Sunday morning for players and administration alike.
“With all first-time things there are some bumps, and this one was a software issue,” Phillips said. “I think we have it fixed and next year if we go this route again, we won’t be up until midnight trying to fix the problem like we were last weekend.”
The seeding problem was the only true issue the tournament faced — aside from the hot but exceptionally windy weather.
Thankfully, the single-elimination format allowed games to move quickly as there was no losers bracket to come out of — resulting in the weekend’s festivities being wrapped up by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Winning teams (which can be seen in the photos accompanying this story on page A5) received champion T-shirts and all participants received string bags filled with items such as first-aid kits, water bottles and other goodies.
North Idaho College provided the bags and the items inside were donated by supporting local businesses.
With implementing a unique new style for a unique event, Phillips and the SilverHoops committee are always looking to improve their event.
“We are always looking to make things better,” Phillips said. “If anyone has any suggestions, we are always willing to hear them.”
All of the money raised from the event goes to the Silver Valley Chamber and grants for youth groups who helped set up the event and run the tournament.