Competitive games, positive message highlight BAAD tourney

MISSION — Last year, AJ Phipps brought his 541 Hustle team to the Basketball Against Alcohol & Drugs (BAAD) Tournament at Nixyáawii Community School after a friend asked why his team hadn’t played in the event.

This year, Phipps brought his team back to the 36th annual event because he liked the message the tournament offers the kids, as well as the competitive games.

“I wasn’t really aware of the tournament until friends asked why we weren’t there,” Phipps said. “I was a big advocate after the first year with the atmosphere and the alcohol and drug prevention, along with basketball. This tournament is a positive thing for the community.”

Like last year, Phipps’ team won the 12-14 boys title. This year, they defeated Zone 6 from The Dalles 61-47 in the championship game.

“We had good games,” Zone 6 coach Jason Bay said. “They (541 Hustle) were a good team and it was a fun game. It was a good experience for the boys. It’s just my three boys (Raymond, Andrew and Lester) playing with friends. We have been going there since my boys were 5 years old. They have played on various teams.”

The Zone 6 team won the Balla Valley Madness Tournament in Toppenish, then turned around and played an 8 a.m. game at the BAAD Tournament the following day.

“In four days, we played 11 games,” said Begay, who is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

The 541 Hustle team is Phipps’ AAU team, with a couple of players added in for the tournament.

“Some of the guys moved up from last year, but some got to stay with me for one more year,” said Phipps, a 2006 graduate of Riverside High School. “It was a cool experience for a coach.”

The team included players from Hermiston, Umatilla, Boardman, Irrigon and Eddy Erickson from Richland, Washington.

“Eddy was a rival in the AAU season,” Phipps said. “He asked to play tournaments with us.”

Also on the team were Jeremiah Chapa, Hayden Vera, Alijah Phipps, Jack Lathrop, Ismael Nunez, Jaquan Correy, Jax Rasmussen and Romeo Bombela.

“Basketball brings them together,” Phillips said. “They are hard-working, humble kids. It has been a joy to see them grow up and mature through the game. They have been on the same team here and there since they were in the second or third grade.”

Vera was a standout freshman at Irrigon High School this season and just made the cut to stay with his 541 Hustle team. He was named the tournament MVP for the second year in a row.

“It was a joy to see Hayden play high school ball,” Phipps said. “It’s very gratifying to see where he is today with the work he has put in.”

Chapa and Erickson were named to the all-tournament team, along with Rogelio Castellanos from Zone 6. Julian Romero was named Mr. Hustle.

Also named to the all-tournament team were Sebastian Moses and Dean Arthur from the third-place Autobots.

North Blackfoot won the sportsmanship award.

Phipps said it’s not hard to see why the tournament has been successful over the years.

“We played a team earlier in the tournament that was from Alberta, Canada,” he said. “The distance teams travel for two days shows their love of the game. When you sign up for these tournaments, you get good teams going. It’s fun, and the whole message behind it all for these impressionable young minds is important.”

12-14 Girls

Surge returned to the tournament and defended its title, beating WSJLJXZ 77-59 in the championship game.

WSJLJXZ came through the consolation bracket with a win over the Blue Mud Ballers to reach the title game.

Ari Moran of Surge was named tournament MVP for the second year in a row. Teammates Ana Lopez and Charlie Contraro were named to the all-tournament team.

For WSJLJXZ, Aiyanna Suppah was named Ms. Hustle, while Alaina Sanchez was named to the all-tournament team.

Also on the all-tournament team were Isabella Villavicencio and Chalye Powaukee of the Blue Mud Ballers, who finished third.

The sportsmanship award went to the Warm Springs Lady Tigers.

15-18 Boys

Former Nixyáawii standout Symon Picard coached Hanks to a 73-57 victory over Shadow Wolves in the championship game. Picard was a player on the winning team War Hammer last year.

Spencer Greene (Skyline High School, Idaho Falls) was named tournament MVP. In contrast, Hank’s teammates Davien Parks (Tualip Heritage High School) and former Nixyaawii player Rylen Bronson were named to the all-tournament team.

Shadow Wolves’ Jeremy Garcia was named Mr. Hustle, while teammate Daunte Van Pelt was named to the all-tournament team.

Ball Hawgz, who finished third, had Jarvis Peters Jr. and Eli Borrego named to the all-tournament team.

The Bulldogs won the sportsmanship award.

15-8 Girls

The Black Bison Bandits, led by tournament MVP Abreann Yearout, defeated Tribal Petals 46-38 in the championship game.

The Black Bison Bandits, from Lapwai, featured seven freshmen, one junior and one senior. They started the tournament with a win over Grindstone, then beat the Tribal Petals in the semifinals.

The Tribal Petals won their consolation bracket game to earn a spot in the title game.

Joslyn Marks and Taya Yearout were named to the all-tournament team, along with Grace Chartow from the Tribal Petals and Lucy Bridgett from the Thunder Kitties, who placed third.

Ina McCloud of the Tribal Petals was named Ms. Hustle.

The sportsmanship award went to the Thunder Kitties.

9-11 Girls

The Yakima Heat walked away with the title after beating Blaze 45-5 in the title game.

Yakima’s Gianna Lewis was named tournament MVP, while teammates Ellie Perez and Aliyah.

Gallegos was named to the all-tournament team.

Also named to the all-tournament team were Spencer Greene and Breia VanPelt from Blaze, and

Janiya Chavez and Aria Thurby from the Little Lady Warriors, who placed third.

The sportsmanship award went to the Lady Cat Blaze.

9-11 Boys

Led by tournament MVP Davion Ramirez, Yakama escaped with a 69-66 victory over the White Swan Warriors in the championship game.

Yakama’s Levi Murguia and Ozzy Scott were named to the all-tournament team.

White Swan, which won the title last year, had Anthony Gepner named Mr. Hustle, while Vance

Berys was named to the all-tournament team, along with Markel Fong and K’iis Taula from the third-place 55ers.

The Turtles won the sportsmanship award.

6-8 Co-ed

This age group of up-and-coming players is a fan favorite.

Owna Yakama won the title with a 16-4 victory over Lapwai.

MVP for the age group was Jameson Nunez of Owna Yakama. Ms. Hustle was Brielle Guzman from

Lapwai, while Mr. Hustle was Kylan Reynolds from Lapwai.

Named to the all-tournament team were Arya Vivette and Nakoa Fiander of Owna Yakama, Robert Taylor of Lapwai, and Layla Castilleja and Canaan Peters of Yakama.

The Wadatika Warriors won the sportsmanship award.