Slam dunk for firefighters 3-on-3 tourney
More than 230 players showed up for the first Kalispell Firefighters Association 3-on-3 basketball tournament, held Saturday in downtown Kalispell.
A dozen courts lined First Avenue East between Depot Park and city hall for the 62 teams in attendance. Some of the top teams from the Valley showed up, filling the streets from early morning to mid-afternoon.
“It was great, especially for the first year,” T.J. Fields of Columbia Falls said. “It was a good turnout. Most of the teams were competitive in the Men’s Open. That’s always nice. I give it an A+ so far.”
Fields’ team, Hon, won the Men’s Open Division, winning a tight final game 21-20 on a runner in the lane. It was an exciting contest that capped an exciting day of play.
“It was a good first year,” Elmo’s Howard Walker said. “I know it’s a lot of work trying to put these things on. I’ve helped put one on. It’s a lot of work. I give them all respect for putting it on.”
Champions were awarded in five men’s divisions and four women’s, with the winners taking a picture on a fire engine.
The Amanda Davey team won the Women’s Open Division, with MBNZ winning for the 9-10 grade girls, Drantulas for the 7-8 grade girls and CMT Dynamite for the 3-5 grade girls.
Playas’ Club won for the 11-12 grade boys, Da Cronk in 9-10, Thrift Shop Boys for grade 8 and Desert Horse Arleesians for grade 7.
“It went better than I could’ve imagined,” tournament organizer Mike Chappuis said.
Kalispell Firefighters Association 3-on-3
Saturday
Girls
Grades 3-5 — CMT Dynamite; 7-8 — Drantulas; 9-10 — MBNZ
Women’s Open
Amanda Davey
Boys
Grade 7 — Desert Horse Arleesians; 8 — Thrift Shop 9-10 — Da Cronk; 11-12 — Playas’ Club
Men’s Open
Hon
Other 3-on-3 tournaments
Arlee Celebration 3-on-3
July 3
Thomas Lyles Memorial Courts
46 teams
Boys
5-6 grades — 1. Arlee Flight, 2. Lil Jordans, 3. Pablo Dream Team.7-8 — 1. Ronan Chiefs, 2. Desert Hors Arleesians, 3. Dream Team. 9-10 — 1. Blackfeet Ballerz, 2. ISJT, 3. TT Boys. 11-12 — 1. Montana Boys, 2. Free Ballers.
Girls
7-8 — 1. Lady Dream Team, 2. Lil Flight, 3. Arlee Lady Heat. 9-10 — Lady Sparks.
Women’s Open
1. Desert Horse Starz, 2. The Hackers, 3. CHEM.
Men’s Open
1. Desert Horse, 2. BMF, 3. Matt.
Coed
1. This Is It, 2. Wii Not Fit, 3. Flathead Express
Bigfork “Battle in the Bay” 3-on-3
July 6
Bigfork High School
Boys
3-4 — 1. Mighty 3rds, 2. Ice Breakers, 3. Crazy 8’s; 5-6 — 1. Wild Ice, 2. Pink Panthers, 3. Missoula Blast; 7-8 — 1. Ronan Chiefs, 2. Fusion, 3. Tubers; 9-10 — 1. Mr. Anderson, 2. Special Blend, 3. The Warriors; 11-12 — 1. Hoops I Did It Again, 2. Vikes, 3. Thunder Down Under
Girls
5-6 — 1. After Shox, 2. Kalispell CASH, 3. Fire Crackers; 7-8 — 1. Hot Shots White, 2. Shox, 3. Bucket Dumpers; 9-10 — 1. Flint Tropics, 2. Dream Team, 2. Thunder Down Under
Women’s Open
1. Smokin Trees and Strokin 3’s, 2. Pippen Ain’t Easy, 3. Stroking It
Men’s Open
1. BMF, 2. Tickle Monsters, 3. Bigfork Vikes
Coed
1. BMF, 2. Wii Not Fit, 3. DQ
Men’s 61 and Under
1. Bigfork Vikes, 2. Stealin Buckets, 3. Baseline Leaners.
Free throw contest — Boys 3-8: Clayton Reichenback; Girls 3-8: Dani Douglas; Girls 9-adult: Madison Akers.
3-point contest — Boys 3-8: Cooper Stein; Boys 9-adult: Buckley Belcourt; Girls 3-8: Britny Hutton; Girls 9-adult: Casadi Wunderlich
Dunk Contest — 6-foot rim: Kelsey Gillespie; 8-ft: Andy Thomas; 9-ft: Josh Bray