Local teams highlight Estes

By Sean Eamon - 03/28/2008

Sean Eamon Montana Standard Rocky Mountain Brewing’s Aaron Forsberg of Anaconda goes up for a shot inside as Butte Funky Fresh Boy Derek Wood, right, swings to block Forsberg’s effort. Butte’s John Robbins, far left, waits under the basket.

ANACONDA — The 24th Wayne Estes Basketball Tournament tipped off in fitting fashion, pitting Anaconda against Butte in the opening game at the Memorial Gym.

Thursday’s games involved mostly local teams to get the tournament rolling as other out-of-state ballers are heading towards The Smelter City.

Tournament organizers Rob Gunderson and Brian Lorengo have 98 teams competing for six division championships in the Northwest’s biggest basketball tournament this weekend. Everything went according to plan on Thursday as the beginning of the weekend looked bright as basketball enthusiasts continue to converge on Anaconda’s five gyms.

The 3-point shootout is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Smelter City swishers Torry Hill and Jared Smithson will be looking to defend their respective titles.

Men’s 6-foot-1-and-under

Rocky Mountain Brewing 56,

Funky Fresh Boys 47

The Wayne Estes Tournament opened with a heated battle between two of the biggest rivals in the area.

As Butte and Anaconda squared off to set the pace of the tournament, the Smelter City team emerged victorious with a 23-point performance from one of the tournament’s most notorious scorers, Aaron Forsberg.

Forsberg posted a tournament record for points in a single game several years ago by putting up 59 points in a Friday game.

The big man guided Rocky Mountain Brewing to victory with help from brothers Chris and Cory Crawshaw. The brothers combined for 16 points with elder sibling Chris finishing with nine points.

The Butte squad put up a good fight and was led by John Robbins with 20 points. Tony Cunneen was the team’s next-best scorer with nine points.

After the game, former undefeated professional boxer Forsberg had all the respect in the world for the youthful Butte team.

“They’re tough young kids,” Forsberg said of the Butte team.

The Funky Fresh Boys are a team of Butte High graduates, most of whom graduated in 2006. Like a lot of teams in the tournament, they picked their team as a

result of pick-up games.

The Anaconda team consists of two groups of family and friends that gelled in Winter sessions.

“We just picked a team from a Sunday night get-together,” Chris Crawshaw said.

Both teams said that they felt having the tournament so close was a big part in why they enjoy playing.

“It’s a pretty big tournament for being only 20 miles away,” Butte’s Corey Williams said.

For the Anaconda team, it’s another chance to both participate in an athletic event and spend time with friends and family.

“It’s one of the things we look forward to around here,” Chris Crawshaw said.

Of course, the local teams aren’t always in the spotlight with dozens of talented teams from out of state taking the court as well.

“We just come here to have fun,” Cunneen said. “It’s fun to see the teams from out of town.”

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BREWING (56) — Aaron Forsberg 23, Eric Hoiland 2, Kris Vauthier 2, Chris Crawshaw 9, Cory Crawshaw 7, Jim Sullivan 0, Clint Barkell 6, Matt Bellon 6.

FUNKY FRESH BOYS (47) — Corey Williams 6, Tony Cunneen 9, Derek Wood 3, Andrew Erickson 5, Brian Andrews 4, John Robbins 20, D.C. Luckey 1.

Other scores

Montana Free Agents 81, Adam Cook Rules 51

Men’s B

Goosetown 40, Rock Stars 39

This late-night meeting between sister city teams turned out to be a defensive battle.

Goosetown, a team of former Anaconda athletes, was able to hold the Rock Stars to six points in the first half. The 17-6 halftime score both looked and felt like a grid iron matchup.

Ultimately, Goosetown prevailed despite an impressive late effort by Butte’s Rock Stars.

Goosetown’s Justin Bartholomew and Mike Drew sealed the deal late, scoring Anaconda’s last four points. Drew hit the Anaconda team’s final two points on free throws.

The Rock Stars’ Bobby Walsh hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to pull within one point at the end.

Bartholomew, formerly a star three-sport athlete for the Copperheads, finished with a game-high 14 points. Smelter City sharpshooter Dan David had seven points.

The Rock Stars’ Josh Popovich finished with 10 points. Travis Harcharik tossed in nine points.

GOOSETOWN (40) — Justin Bartholomew 14, Dan Haffey 5, Dan David 7, Dan Blando 0, Dan Laughiln 6, Randy Ranalli 3, Mike Drew 2, Bryan Greer 0, Scott Johns 3.

ROCK STARS (39) — Josh Popovich 10, Travis Harcharik 9, Jake Fournier 0, Ray Zeren 7, Jeff McNabb 0, Steven Fournier 2, Bobby Walsh 6, Ryan Panch 0, Keith Helstrom 0.

Boys’ A

Anaconda Copperheads 58, Hot Shots 31

Anaconda Wayne Estes teams composed of wrestlers and non-basketball athletes have been an on-again off-again tradition in the March tournament.

Unfortunately, the matmen never seem to make it past two games.

The Hot Shots kept it close in the first half, but eventually fell to the Anaconda Copperheads by 28 points.

The Copperheads had double-digit point performances from Devon Majors, Brandon Nelson and Stephen Masters. Most of the Copperheads played varsity and junior varsity basketball last season.

The entertaining Hot Shots tried to come back late with a series of long 3-point shots, but were a little rusty from long range. Four of the Hot Shots finished with six points.

ANACONDA COPPERHEADS (58) — Ray Laslovich 7, Nate Coley 3, Stephen Masters 10, Devin Majors 15, Jake Caka 0, Chris Zacher 4, Brandon Nelson 10, Eric McNeil 3.

HOT SHOTS (31) — Ron Ward 3, Miguel Rice 6, Anthony Mannjo 2, Clark Hensley 6, Marcus Lussy 6, Eddy Young 6.

Gnarkill 98, Ballers 70

Gnarkill was propelled to victory by a 22-point performance by Anaconda’s Lucas Wagner.

Fellow Copperhead seniors Kaleb Adler and Cory Orrino put up 18 and 17 points. Orrino played well considering he mostly played football throughout high school.

Anaconda freshman Kyle Moore had Thursday’s most impressive game from long range, hitting eight 3-pointers at the Daly Gym.

DLM 66, Pinkfingers 46

DLM post Dylan Whiting lit up the scoreboard for 17 points. The winners consist of several Dillon players and a couple Bitterroot Valley standouts

Brandon Boka put up 12 points, all on 3-pointers in the win over the Butte squad.