The Chronicle

Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:35 pm

Updated: 10:50 am, Fri Jun 25, 2010.

By Cary Rosenbaum II

Why does Spokane Hoopfest seem like Eastern Washington’s best-kept secret around here?
It’s a few hundred miles away, and it’s the biggest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world. Yet the bevy of talent scattered in the area is not well-represented — probably a sign of the importance of local baseball and fastpitch summer leagues, along with organized, 5-on-5 summer basketball programs.


Still, though, upon the random searching of local standouts and town names, a few will make the journey.

One of the more interesting brackets, pertaining to the Southwest Washington area, is #249, where Mossyrock’s Riley Alvord, Austin Anderson, Jonah Bradley, and Colby Jensen have the potential to meet up against Black Hills High — the Tumwater team comprised of Anye Turner, Nico Hudson, Tanner Johnson and Dylan Winkley. On opposite sides of the bracket, though, the likelihood of the teams actually meeting up isn’t far off of the chance of them being in the same bracket, although it would be nice to travel all the way to play someone you can meet up with just up the road.  Kobe Baumann and Trevor Baumann are representing teams labeled as Chehalis Hoops (Kobe plays for the Jr. team). Kobe’s joined by Kaimi Henry and Jordan Waring, while Trevor is slated to play with Trei Kline and Maxx Waring. Let’s hope these young legs know what they’re in for, as it is a fairly uncommon strategy to play in 100 degree heat for two-straight days with just three players.