Hoops hot at annual 3 on 3 fest
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Nothing but net...MacKenzie Holt shows off his dunking skills during Saturday evening’s slam dunk contest.
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Spectators enjoy the show at Hoopfest.
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Cooper Firth, 13, of Idaho, won the men’s 3-point shooting competition. He is one of the youngest winners in the history of the 23-year event.
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A Big Sky player looks for help from a teammate in an 11th-12th-grade girls’ game
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A teen shoots a 3-pointer during Hoopfest.
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Young basketball players hit the pavement in 3-on-3 action.
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POLSON — Dozens of basketball players of all ages took to the streets of downtown Polson over the weekend for the annual Flathead Lake 3 on 3 competition affectionately known as “Hoopfest,” drawing droves of spectators to the popular slam dunk and 3-point shooting contests Saturday evening.
Thirteen-year-old Cooper Firth of Idaho won a nailbiter in the men’s 3-point shoot, becoming one of the youngest athletes to win the contest in the event’s 23-year history, according to tournament director Rich Forbis. Ben Roberts soared to the slam dunk title and Brittany Earnest won the women’s 3-point shoot.
Play continued through Sunday as the field of 230 teams gradually narrowed; final matches in each division were played late Sunday afternoon. Several local teams won their divisions, including the girls’ 11-12th grade Desert Horse Stars (Alicia Camel, Lee Camel, Louetta Camel, Micalann McCrea), high school co-ed team the Pirates (Payton Lefthand, Lauren Lefthand, Wyatt Ducharme, Nicole Lake), and men’s open elite squad Tire Depot 1 (Howard Walker, Edward Running Rabbit, D.J. Fish, Joel Ahles.)
During the ninth- and 10th-grade boys’ final at about 4 p.m., tempers flared; fisticuffs erupted and both teams were disqualified.
“A lady called requesting an officer because of group of kids were fistfighting,” Polson Police Chief Wade Nash said.
Within four minutes, Polson Police officer Rick Schoening was on the scene but “no one knew anything,” Nash said, and there was no ongoing fighting.
“There are rules in place to address this situation,” Forbis said. “Every team that enters is given the rules, and they are aware of the consequences.”
The Flathead Lake 3 on 3 sportsmanship pledge reads, “Any player fighting will be disqualified from the tournament.”
According to its website, proceeds from the 2015 Flathead Lake 3 on 3 will be donated to local charities.
“We want to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers and community members,” Forbis added.
2015 Flathead Lake 3 on 3 results
Youth male 5-6
1, Bozeman Bolts
2, That’s What’s Up
3, Missoula Metro
Youth female 5-6
1, Irish
2, Ballers 23
3, Chicken & Dunklings
Youth male 7-8
1, Crusaders
2, Dream Team
3, Kalispell Krew
Youth female 7-8
1, No Doubt
2, Just Do It
3, Directioners
Youth male 9-10
1, (Disqualified)
2, (Disqualified)
3, Uptown Dunk You Up
Youth female 9-10
1, War Hoops
2, Lady Bears
3, Florence Falcons
Youth male 11-12
1, HDS
2, MMM Sheep
3, Stroke City
Youth female 11-12
1, Desert Horse Stars
2, Big Sky
3, Just Do It
High school co-ed
1, Pirates
2, Long Shots,
3, Team PGC
Female open “A”
1, La Dawgs
2, That’s What’s Up
Female open “B”
1, All Nations
2, Relentless
3, Pikuni Ballerz
Co-ed
1, Wind Dancer Tunes
2, Sure,
3, Victor
Open male elite
1, Tire Depot 1
2, McLean Plumbing
3, Tire Depot 2
Open male recreational
1, Team Wonder Bread
2, 3 Jerks
3, Strokin Daily
6’1” & under elite
1, Coconut Crabs
2, Pikuni Miistakiis
3, Eureka
6’1” & under recreational
1, POI Time
2, GBS
3, Those One Guys
3-point shoot female
Brittany Earnest
3-point shoot male
Cooper Firth
Slam dunk contest
Ben Roberts
