FRIENDLY COMPETITION

The Celtics and the Warriors are battling for an NBA championship this week, but the competition at Amundson Sports Complex last weekend was just as fierce. The sixth annual Wildhorse Shootout 3-on-3 tournament brought 66 teams to Plains for a day of basketball and fun. The weather provided a steady mist of rain throughout the day in which almost 140 half-hour games of basketball were played, but some players said the sprinkling of rain was better than past tournaments where they have played in 100-degree temperatures.

Teams came from as far as Great Falls, Deer Lodge, Missoula, Kalispell and the Mission Valley to compete in the Wildhorse Shootout, which raises funds for the Wildhorse Sports Association (WSA). Several local Sanders County teams played in the event as well, with many making it to the championship round.

"The community come together to make something like this work and after six years it is really starting to feel like our community is embracing the fun and excitement this brings to town in conjunction with Plains Day," said Erika Lawyer with the WSA, who coordinated the event. She said the tournament brought is more than $5,000 for WSA. "Our big goal is to build new bathrooms, shower facilities and concessions at the complex," she said of the continuing improvements at the sports complex. "Every little bit helps. We have been generously gifted $17,200 thus far this year by a few donations from people in the community to get things started in that endeavor."

In the women's 11th grade – adult bracket, Thompson Falls alum Megan and Ellie Baxter, Faith Frields and upcoming senior Chesney Lowe took first place. The seventh-eighth grade girls team of Aubree Butcher, Emelia Rivinius, Ashley Ferlan and Ava Lawyer took second, and The Bills team from Thompson Falls (Solveig Nygaard, Aubrey Baxter, Annalise Fairbank and Addy Deal) took second in the girls ninth-10th bracket. The TF Ballers from Thompson Falls (Tristan Kelly, Alex Ferrar, Bryan Lakko and Evan Clyde) also placed second, in the boys fifth-sixth division.

In the men's open bracket, former Plains graduate Jake Weyers, who recently graduated from Dawson Community College, teamed up Treydon Brouilette of Plains and Noxon alum Rylan Weltz. The team, sponsored by McGowan's Grocery, took second in their bracket, but had some intense games getting to the championship. In the semifinal game, McGowan's was down 11-15 with 10 minutes to go, but Weltz hit a two-point show at the end and McGowan's won by one point, 21-20. Games were played to 21, or whoever was winning when the 30-minute clock ran out. Weltz said he has been playing with Brouilette and Weyers since eighth grade. "Three-on-threes showcase your skills better," Weltz noted.

Megan Baxter, who just finished her freshman season as part of the Carroll College Saints basketball team, said three-on-three tournaments are different. "It's more physical than a college game," she stated. "It's harder because it's kind of a free for all, but it's fun to try new moves and work on my game. It's fun to keep my game up and play with my sister." Ellie Baxter will start her senior year as a Blue Hawk this fall.

Several of the local players also served as referees for the event, which included 30-minute games starting at 9 a.m., with the last round at 4 p.m. Other local referees included Sean McCarthy, Sinjin LaDeaux, Jessica Hanson, Pat Roy, Mike Benson, Teirainy Bellinger and Jack Revier. Lawyer said that a Montana Officials Association clinic was scheduled the same day, which made it hard to find officials. Along with organizing the event, Lawyer stepped in to officiate a few games. "It's a struggle in normal years to find referees. I am proud of the job ours did throughout the day."

The Wildhorse Shootout is the part of the Mission Valley 3-on-3 tournament schedule. Along with the Plains tournament in June, Mission Valley helps coordinate a tournament in July in Bigfork and one in August in Ronan as part of Pioneer Days.

Lawyer also noted that The Bean Bug and Von Construction ran the special events and 50/50 drawing during the tournament, and Randy Garrison kept the teams going with music and keeping time in his role as emcee for the event. Cancer Network of Sanders County and the Plains Dog Park volunteers worked the concession booth for the Wildhorse Shootout. Lawyer said they went above and beyond, staying to help clean up and tear down after the event.

WSA will continue their fundraising efforts for improvements at Amundson Sports Complex with the annual Wildhorse Showdown co-ed softball tournament in July.