Hooping it Ronan-style
Alex Quequesah with team Da Boys makes a valiant but unsuccessful attempt to keep the ball in-bounds.
By Andrew Fish / Leader Staff
Ballers filled the streets of Ronan last Saturday for the Ronan Pioneer Days 3 on 3 basketball tourney. In all 81 teams filled out 13 categories.
One of the closest and hardest fought matches of the day came in the boys 5th and 6th grade bracket between two unlikely competitors- locals Da Boys and the Missoula based all-girl Wolfpack. Coach Resner of the Wolfpack explained that the girls entered the boys bracket because they wanted more competition. The superior zoning of the pack gave them leverage against the boy's height advantage. But it wasn't quite enough- Da Boys took the game 13-12 with the winning shot a free throw by Kollin Wroblewski.
From early on, the Desert Horse Men's Open squad looked to be the team to beat. Their first match of the day was against local rivals All Skinn'D Up. Aaron Skogen, Desert Horse's number 11, said "It was little more physical than we would have liked, but I'm glad we pulled through in the end." Desert Horse won that match and went on to take 1st place in the Men's Open.
The players weren't the only ones having fun, though. 18-month old Chris VanGunten was there watching the action with his grandmother Renee VanGunten when he spied a loose basketball and immediately toddled over to pick it up, despite the fact it was nearly half as big as he is. Grandmother Renee confirmed he has a future on the court, "Yeah, he's definitely going to be a baller," she said.
Naida Lefthand was on the sidelines to watch her grandchildren Payton and Lauren Lefthand play ball. She said that she loves watching the kids play not only because they're her grandkids, but because it makes them so happy. "It keeps kids away from drugs" said Naida. "And they form a circle of friends and help each other out."
Special recognition goes out to the event's organizer- Steve "Wolly" Woll, who will be coaching basketball for Ronan High this year. Not only did he organize the Ronan event, he also organized the St. Ignatius 3-on-3 and did the bracketing for the Flathead Lake Hoopfest. When asked why he takes on organizing these events, Wolly kept it short and sweet, "Love of the game, baby!"