Hoopfest Has Former EV Stars Playing, Sweating Together Again

Swapping stories is one of the fun byproducts of Hoopfest, particularly if team members are related.

For “We Will Rock You,” a team made up of brothers Jim and John Bittner, their brother-in-law Terry Shillam, and good friend Dan Lounder, the fun is also in swapping team names.

Their first year together, John Bittner’s offering was “Money,” because “we were broke,” he said.

And quickly out of the tournament.

Last year they were one of numerous “Bad Boyz” entrants, so Shillam amended it to “Bad Boyz Shillam.”

That miffed the in-laws of Shillam, who was a branch manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car in California before returning here three years ago. They had played in Hoopfest longer than he.

But they also were their 6-foot and under open division champion and overall runnerup last year which softened the ribbing Jim Bittner has taken for this year’s choice of team name.

“They got beat until I got back into the tournament,” Lounder offered, who moved back to Spokane last year after 10 years in Seattle.

He must wait until next year for his turn to name the team.

That kind of friendly repartee is what playing basketball in the 3,903-team tournament is all about. But it doesn’t hide the fact that all of these Valley athletes are competitive as well.

Shillam, the Bittners and Lounder were all three-sport athletes at East Valley High School.

“The competitive level is what we thrive on,” said Shillam.

Shillam, 32, was a star running back and defender on East Valley’s unbeaten 1981 state championship football team. Jim Bittner, also 32, quarterbacked that team. Lounder, 31, was a junior linebacker on that team and state qualifying golfer.

All played basketball, although Shillam sat out his senior year with a knee injury. He went on to play four years collegiately at the University of Montana.

Both Shillam and Jim Bittner played baseball for a state-qualifying American Legion team the next summer.

“Whenever the boys get together we still bring up the high school memories,” said Shillam.

Youngest brother John, 27, who graduated in 1987 and was a ball boy for the team, had one.

“I had to stand on the same side of the field as Arlington (EV’s title foe) and was intimidated standing next to a guy who weighed 300 pounds. I was 3-foot-6,” John said.

Recreational activities remain a big part of the lives of this Hoopfest family. The two Bittners have played in it ever since its inception, one year reaching the open division finals with former Shadle Park star Brian Rheingans and EV standout Tom McIntyre.

Lounder and John Bittner team up in golf tournaments where they carry 6 handicaps. They are all part of a coed softball team, along with their wives and other EV classmates, that plays at Quad Park in Post Falls.

But there is a certain special quality about Hoopfest, perhaps because they didn’t experience great basketball success in high school.

“The fun part is playing against kids who called us old men and we still beat ‘em by five points.” said Lounder.

Lounder is the team’s shooter. Jim Bittner, with his big hands and sharp elbows, and Shillam play inside. John Bittner is the slasher and hacker.

They say their success is the result of having played together for so long. They can correct the other’s mistakes without fear of reprisal, “90 percent of the time,” said Lounder.

And they are looking forward to a repeat performance this weekend on the streets of Spokane.

“If we go two and out,” warned John Bittner, “void all that we said.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo