'The perfect basketball weekend'
Shoshone County Undersheriff Lance Stutzke pulls up for a three-pointer during his team's run in the Men's 18-30 division at SilverHoops. Stutzke competed in the first SilverHoops 30 years ago, something he remembers fondly.
JOSH McDONALD
Ayden Clapper-Gary drops in a floater over Draeden Taylor during a battle of Kellogg High School basketball players at SilverHoops. Clapper-Gary got the bucket, but Taylor's team got the win.
KELLOGG — The SilverHoops 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament marked its 30th anniversary last weekend by attracting more people than ever before.
This year, 181 teams, 710 players and more than 3,000 spectators made their way through the courts at Teeters Field during an event that many folks called “the perfect basketball weekend.”
It was warm, but not too hot, which can be the difference between an enjoyable experience and something you’re simply trying to power through. And as the biggest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in North Idaho, there was nothing organizers wanted more than to see everyone have a great weekend.
By the time Sunday’s single-elimination tournaments had ended, some teams had played upward of eight games over the course of two days, but it was all worth it for the players who got to take home the red T-shirts.
As has become a tradition with SilverHoops, the men's age 18-30 bracket was the most populated and fiercely competitive division, boasting 44 teams that spent Saturday jockeying for position for the tournament on Sunday.
Shoshone County Undersheriff Lance Stutzke was among the competitors in that men's division and mentioned how happy he is that the tournament has endured and grown over the years.
“I can’t believe I played in this tournament 30 years ago and still love the competition,” Stutzke said. “A few of us from the sheriff’s office braved the heat and played on a few different teams. While we didn’t win our brackets, there was still plenty of glory to be had for all. And plenty of ibuprofen.”
Ethan Wendt, one of the event’s organizers was thrilled with the turnout, highlighting how the event couldn’t run as smoothly without the army of volunteers who assist.
“With it being the biggest event to date, we were grateful to all the volunteers who monitored courts and helped keep the event area clean,” Wendt said. “I received several compliments about this being teams and players' favorite tournament, even over the world's largest, Hoopfest.”
Former Post Falls High School standout Jake Blakney is one of those players who loves SilverHoops. He said he believes that from a competitive standpoint, it holds up against the very best tournaments he’s played in and he looks forward to it every summer.
Organizers said they are grateful to all the event sponsors, including major sponsors Dave Smith Motors and Grocery Outlet, as well as James Rydesky for the special 30th anniversary T-shirt design.
