Taking it to the streets
255 3-on-3 teams closed down five city blocks for three days at Flathead 3-on-3 Tournament
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A lot of local hoopsters played a major role in the youth movement at the Flathead 3-on-3 Tournament in Polson last weekend.
The majority of the 255 teams that played on the 21 courts in downtown Polson Friday through Sunday were in the youth divisions and most of those divisions had a local team playing in the championship game.
Arlee’s Native Fire of Phillip Malatare, Alex Moran, Tyler Tanner and Justin Sansavere recovered from a loss to North Idaho Steel I in the semifinals and beat them twice to win the fifth-sixth-grade championship.
Two local teams played in the girl’s fifth-sixth-grade championship. Polson’s Lil Lakers of Haley Fyant, Lauren Lefthand, Izabella Seemann, and Mikala Croft beat the undefeated Desert Horse team to force a second championship, but Lee and Alicia Camel, Bradee Big Sam and Jaelynn Askan prevailed in the second game to win their second championship in the Polson competition.
In the boy’s seventh-eighth grade championship, Pablo’s Kollin Wroblewski of the Rez Ballers hit a foul shot in overtime to force a second game against Helena’s Rim Rattlers. Wroblewski, Alex Quequesah, July Sorrell and Ellis Howard, who have been playing together for three years, lost the second game to finish in second place.
In the men’s ninth-10th-grade championship, Polson’s Desert Horse of Zach Camel, Will Davey, Carston Birch and Isaac Camel beat Northern Illinois Avalanche in overtime to force a second championship, but lost the final game of the tournament to finish second.
Team Kelley of Breanne Kelley, Marlee Berry, Mariah Camel and Nina Orozco came back from a 9-8 loss to No Name to beat them 16-12 in the second championship.
“We just had to put it in our heads that we had to beat them. It was all mental. We knew we could beat them,” Orozco said after the game.
She said playing on the blacktop in nearly 100-degree heat may have caught up to them in the first championship game, but they put that behind them in the second game.
In the men’s 11th-12-grade division, which 26 teams entered, Kevin Wroblewski, Lucas Black, Trae Burland and Justin Dusty Bull of No Ceilings beat Jabba Da Hut 20-19 on a Wroblewski bank shot from the top of the key to force a second championship game, which they lost.
After not being able to field an elite team last year, J.R.Camel, SKC’s Pius Takes Horse, Desmond Pablo and Vassy Banny of Desert Horse reclaimed the title with a victory over the Penetrators in the final.
Tex Cooper, Buzz Fyant, Chuck Page and Milo Nyseth defended their 35 and over title with a win over 4 Players, who had beat them earlier.
“It was redemption time for us,” said Cooper. “This is kind of a homestand for us, so it's nice to win because of hometown pride.”
The first Flathead Lake 3-on-3 tournament was held in 1992, with 93 teams competing in the inaugural tournament. The number nearly doubled the next year and has reached 300 several times. Two hundred and sixty-five teams competed in last year’s tournament. The tournament is hosted by Anderson Broadcasting and benefits a number of local charities.
Results
Flathead Lake 3-on-3 Tournament
July 23-25, 2010
Youth
Male Grades 5-6 – 1. Native Fire 2. North Idaho Steel I. 3. North Idaho Steel II.
Female Grades 5-6 – 1. Desert Horse 2. Lil Lakers 3. Helena Highlights.
Male Grades 7-8 – 1. Rim Rattlers 2. Rez Ballerz 3. Flathead Flash
Female Grades 7-8 – 1. BAB 2. And 1 3. Flathead Flash.
Male Grades 9-10 – 1. Northern Illinois Avalance 2. Desert Horse 3. Just Do It.
Female Grades 9-10 – 1. Sentinel Gummy Bears 2. KTKO 3. Re-Mix.
Males Grades 11-12 – 1. Jabba Da Hut 2. No Ceilings 3. The Forgiven.
Female Grades 11-12 – 1. Team Kelley 2. No Name Just Game 3. Missoula Rim Rockers.
Co-ed – 1. WimGrim 2. Johnny Got Kidnapped 3. 4OH6
Open Male Elite – 1. Desert Horse 2. Penetrators 3. Ballin is a Habit
Male Recreational – 1. Hansun 2. Balcom’s Belly 3. Kootenai.
35 and Over – 1. Desert Horse 2. 4 Players.
6’1” and Under Elite 1. No Big Deal. 2. Bull Thing. 3. Getting Buckets.
6’1” and Under Recreational 1. Hoop School 2. Flathead Ballers 3. Co-aa
3-point female – Dani Baker
3-point male – Will Bynum
Slam Dunk 6’1” and Under – Will Bynum
Slam Dunk 6’1” and Over – Will Bynum
