Longtime Volunteer Still Punches Clock

Even though he started as a volunteer, Gary Klassen has been punching a (shot) clock at the girls State B basketball tournament the past 17 years.

Klassen, who teaches social studies at Greenacres Junior High and coordinates drivers’ education for the Central Valley school district, first became enamored with the B tournament while he was teaching at Selkirk.

After moving to Spokane, he decided to become more involved and volunteered to help at the girls tournament when it was moved here permanently in 1981. Officials put him to work running the shot clock, and he’s been at the switch since.

“The first few years, I alternated with somebody and only did about half the games,” Klassen said, “but I’ve done all 26 (games) the past 10 or 12 years.”

Klassen is a big fan of the decision to move the tournament from Spokane Falls Community College to the Arena, where it is played alongside the boys. “It’s just great having it here,” he said. “When we were out at the Falls, it seemed like we were all by ourselves. Now we’re right in the middle of all the other people.” , DataTimes