Hoopfest Quits Call For Entries

Hoopfest deadline came early this year.

Registration for the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament downtown was closed Thursday, a day ahead of schedule, the event’s executive director, Rick Steltenpohl, said.

With 3,830 teams and about 15,000 players signed up, Hoopfest is nearly as big as it can get.

“We’ve got a list of about 100 teams on hold that we’ll try to work in as openings occur,” Steltenpohl said. “Entries postmarked (Thursday) we’ll get you on the hold list. Anything later than a Thursday postmark is probably too late. We’re full.”

Deadline for guaranteed entry was May 10. Registration was to be accepted through today on a space-available basis.

“We could have taken more teams by adding satellite locations, squeezing courts together or putting more teams in each bracket, but we thought that would compromise the quality of the event,” Steltenpohl said.

The event, the largest of its kind in the country, is June 29-30.

Organizers returned to the 16-team bracket this year, down from 18 teams a year ago.

“It means fewer games on Saturday, which makes it easier for players and especially court monitors,” Steltenpohl said.

A new Hoopfest basketball - black synthetic leather with the tournament logo - will be used for the first time.

An on-site minor emergency clinic will be set up for the first time, Steltenpohl said.

The tournament is on the internet at http://hoopfest.org. Game times and locations will be available at that address.

The event could use 300 more volunteers. Call 624-2414 for details.

Girls basketball

The summer basketball season begins before the summer.

The Boyd’s Kickoff Summer Basketball Classic for girls begins this afternoon at Shadle Park High School and continues through Sunday.

Seven Greater Spokane League teams are involved, along with Big Nine power Kamiakin, Lake City of Coeur d’Alene and Kettle Falls.

The games begin at 4 p.m. today. Play resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday. The championship game is at 1:30 Sunday.

Track and field

North Central’s Joe Schauble, who is retiring after more than 30 years of coaching, was voted coach of the year for boys track by his peers.

The girls coach is Mark VanDyne of Lewis and Clark.

, DataTimes