Local wild card team wins 3-on-3 age division title
LOCALS Trents McDonald, Kody Carter, Nate Hathorne, Gavin Regaled and Darren Standford won 7th and 8th grade division of the Wild Horse 3-on-3 baskebtall tournament this weekend. (Erin Jusseaume/Clark Fork Valley Press)
MANY teams were in action this weekend for the 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Plains. (Erin Jusseaume/Valley Press)
The Wild Horse Sporting Complex held its second annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament this past weekend in Plains.
Arguably, the Cinderella story of the event was the 7th and 8th grade boys team which was put together the night before the event kicked off.
“With a good handful of events on the same day and weekend, we lost a few teams. Then, at the last minute, we had a team drop out. We got these boys together at the last minute and they played great,” said organizer Erika Lawyer.
With teams from around the region coming into Plains for the tournament, which is supported by Mission Valley 3-on-3, the event was an overall success for the local association.
“Street ball is a little different to gym ball, but that isn’t a bad thing,” said Lawyer.
Team numbers were down this year compared to last year, however, the Wild Horse Sports Association was able to raise just under $3,000 for the club.
“Steven Olly of Mission Valley really went above and beyond with support for the event,” said Lawyer.
The event attracted players from Butte, Kalispell, Ronan, Polson, Missoula, Thompson Falls and, of course, Plains.
Though still a relatively new event for the town, the support of locals is very strong.
“A lot of our volunteers, refs, canteen helpers are board members and families from the association,” mentioned Lawyer.
Her son, Wyatt, also competed in the event and said “We have great refs here, the event has been awesome.”
The association was also successful in obtaining two MOA (Montana Officials Association) Referees for the tournament. This helps with keeping the event on-time as the first half of the day is a round robin knock out, then moves up to a single elimination competition to crown the winners.
With continued support from local businesses, the Amundsen Sporting complex is coming alive in Plains this summer.
The association’s next event will be an adult coed softball tournament held the first weekend of August.