Hoops and heritage
Some of the teams are named Bloodline, Shamans and United Tribes, a tribute to their culture. Then there’s the team that honors popular culture – Charlie’s Angels.
But no matter what the name, the common thread among the men and women at the three-day basketball tournament is their Native American heritage.
“It’s all part of the circuit,” explained tournament director Jerry Ford, whose Spring Fever All-Native Basketball Tournament began Friday night at the Warehouse sports complex near Gonzaga University.
The games are five-on-five and played on full courts. The Spokane stop attracted 22 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams. Regional teams from the Spokane, Nez Perce, Coeur d’Alene, Kalispel and Colville tribes are competing. But there are also teams from as far away as South Dakota and Alberta, as well as many from Montana.
The first night began with a blessing of the courts.
Ford, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, Wash., said it is the biggest Indian tournament in the country and is especially popular because of the prize money. The champion men’s team will win $7,000, with $2,000 going to the runner-up. The women’s purse will pay down to fourth place, with the top team winning $3,500. Northern Quest, a Kalispel casino, is the biggest contributor to the prize money.
“The money is not what brings us here,” said former Mead High School star Chrystal Pakootas. “A team from Arizona. … that’s not going to pay for their airfare. I think it’s more for us Indians to get together. We’ll go out and eat fry bread afterwards.”
Pakootas, 28, is the oldest player on team Wicked Ballerz, which also featured two players from the 2005 State B championship team from Cusick High School. While Cusick teammates Misty Ostlie and Kimberly Bluff clearly place winning state on the top of their basketball highlight list, playing at the All-Native tournament has its advantages.
“It’s fun,” said Ostlie, who is Shoshone-Bannock. “It keeps you in shape and gives you a chance to improve your game.”
Competition on five courts will continue today. The championship games are scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (women) and 4:45 p.m. (men).
Ford said the next big tournament is nationals, scheduled at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan., the last weekend in April.