Thunder wins first place in their Hoopfest Division
<p>After winning the Hoopfest tournament from left coach Andrew Price, poses with seventh graders, Caleb Harrington, Elijah Price, Evan Wasmer and Mic Skeen.</p>
The Bonners Thunder, a group of 12-year-old boys from Bonners Ferry, came in first place for their division at Spokane’s Hoopfest on June 25 and 26.
Coach Andrew Price of Bonners Ferry said he was very proud of the way the boys played.
“They worked hard, ran their plays and stayed calm under pressure and always with a great attitude,” said Price.
Price was also amazed with the sportsmanship of all the teams that played in the three-on-three street basketball tournament. The competition is fierce for all ages in this annual Spokane event.
“We will definitely be back for Hoopfest next year,” Price said.
In the finals the Bonners Thunder lost to the winner in the losers bracket, however they came back to beat the same team in the last game which made Bonners Thunder champions for their division.
“It was an incredible experience for all of us,” said Price.
The same group of boys with the exception of one, Caleb Harrington who will play for another Swish team, will be playing in Bonners Ferry Swish July 16 and 17. They will be under the name Swoosh.
Mic Skeen’s younger brother, Seamus Skeen, will play in Harrington’s place on the Swoosh team for the Bonners Ferry tournament.
The Hoopfest team will be together again when playing in the Silverfest three-on-three torunament on July 30 and 31 in Kellogg, and again at the Coeur d’ Alene Shootout three-on-three tournament on Aug. 20 and 21.
These boys will also be trying out for the seventh grade boys basketball team for Boundary County Middle School next spring.