SPOKANE — Ephrata was well represented at Hoopfest over the weekend with seven teams competing from high school to fifth grade brackets. By the end of the weekend, two of the Ephrata teams claimed second place finishes in their brackets. 

“I thought they did great,” said Ephrata High School Head Coach Alain Black. “They played well, they played hard and had some good competition, so it was fun to watch.” 

The two teams to take home the silver were the Tiger Terrors consisting of Summer B, Gwynn F, Tyler W and Brooklynn R and the Hoop Town Girls consisting of Brooke B, Grace K, Emma F and Hallie H.  

The Tiger Terrors started out the tournament on a three-game win streak earning victories against the Space Jammerz, Crazy Coconuts and Savage Sisters. After falling into the losers' bracket with a loss to the Lady Net Rippers, the Tiger Terrors bounced back to defeat the Hoopsicles to get back into the championships where they took second after falling once again to the Lady Net Rippers. 

The Hoop Town Girls had a strong run in the tournament after earning wins against the Bengal Baddies and the Dunking Donuts. The Hoop Town Girls fell to the OG Unstoppables but went on to win four straight against the ChikinNuggetBlst, BallHers, OG Unstoppables and Queens of the Court, before falling to the Queens of the Court in the championships. 

“It was fun to see those younger ones go and compete,” said Coach Black. “That’s what’s coming to our program, so we always like to support those younger ones and keep them involved as much as we can.” 

One of Ephrata’s high school teams, named Da Squad, consisted of varsity players Maycee Black and Sophie Molitor along with Brooklynne Addink and Ellie Molotor. The thing that stuck out about this squad to Coach Black was their independence. 

“They don’t like to have a coach,” she said. “They like to do it themselves, and so it’s fun to see that.” 

Da Squad started the first day of the competition with wins against the Mustangs and the Candy Ballers taking them into Sunday’s matches. 

Unfortunately, Da Squad had trouble in day two as they fell to the Penguin Queens and then fell to the WOATS in overtime in the loser's bracket, eliminating the team from the tournament. 

“They had some good competition in it,” said Coach Black. 

The coach said two teams of the Ephrata girls were coming off a week of attending the Ilwaco BNB Team Camp prior to attending Hoopfest. All of the girls had already played nine games over the course of the camp and had to be ready to play at least another four going into the weekend. 

“It was a little rough going into it,” said Coach Black. “They were all tired from nine games... so they were just going in to have fun.” 

Preparing for Hoopfest’s 3-on-3 format was also a challenge, she said, since it is fundamentally different than how normal basketball is played. Playing in Hoopfest helped give the girls more player on player experience. 

“It lets you be creative where normal basketball is more structured,” said the coach. “I like them to play 3-on-3 to teach them creativity within that.” 

Coach Black said having both the camp and Hoopfest back-to-back helped the girls start to come together. As the week progressed, the players learned to play together by knowing how their teammates will react and responding to each other's strengths and weaknesses. 

With the camp and Hoopfest wrapped up, the Ephrata girls are planning to stay consistent in their summer training. The coach said throughout July she plans to work with the girls on hitting the weights and shooting every Monday through Friday until August 1. 

During their summer training, Coach Black said she also plans to have live play every Tuesday and Thursday where they will have 5-on-5 games. These games will be either against each other, alumni or any Basin teams that might be available to play. 

“Still a lot of basketball,” she said. “We use the summer for a lot of fun and growth for our season. We really preach that it’s in the summer that the growth really happens, that’s when the work happens.” 

Through all of this, the coach said she hopes that the girls remember that the game of basketball is all about having fun and that the players continue to develop their love for the game. 

“That’s why I coach,” said Black. “I just absolutely love the game and I hope that they can get that love for it and keep that love for it all throughout.” 

Ephrata’s Hoopfest Teams

Da Squad (2-2) 

Maycee Black 

Sophie Molitor 

Brooklynne Addink 

Ellie Molitor 

Ephrata Nothin (1-3) 

Brooklynn M 

Kourtney H 

Peyton E 

Ellie B 

Small Town Girls (2-2) 

Lexie B 

Dezi S 

Lettie N 

Josie W 

Tiger Terrors (4-2) 

Summer B 

Gwynn F 

Tyler W 

Brooklynn R 

Hoop Town Girls (6-2) 

Brooke B 

Grace K 

Emma F 

Hallie H 

Court Crushers (0-3) 

Somar R 

Sadie D 

Haizyl B 

Ava M 

Girls on Fire (0-3) 

Paisleigh R 

Gracie H 

Ellie M 

Lily S 

    Ellie Molitor from Ephrata’s Da Squad catches a pass from her teammate Brooklynne Addink during Hoopfest.
  

    The Hoop Town Girls from Ephrata take a group photo on the sidelines at Hoopfest over the weekend.
  

    Ephrata’s Tiger Terrors team takes a photo together while hydrating between games at Hoopfest.
  

    The Small Town Girls team from Ephrata smiles as they take a photo together for Hoopfest.
  

    The Ephrata Nothin squad takes a photo between games at Hoopfest this weekend.
  

    Ephrata’s Girls on Fire team of Lily S, Paisleigh R, Gracie H and Ellie M stand together for a team photo at Hoopfest.
  

    Ephrata’s Court Crushers team takes a group photo on the sideline ahead of one of their games at Hoopfest.