March Madness In The Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - The last time Jeff Hofer played in an alumni basketball tournament, he had a great time being out on the court again.

At the Waitsburg Alumni Tournament four years ago, he had a chance to relive some of the glory from 1985, when the Cardinals placed fourth in the state. Back then, Hofer was a senior varsity player on the squad.

Recently, he has been enjoying basketball success vicariously through his kids - senior T.J., who is on the winning 2010 Cardinals team, and Katie, who is a younger varsity player on the Lady Cardinals team, which was undefeated until they were knocked out of the state playoffs this weekend.

Hofer will soon have a chance to hit the hardwood himself again in the first-ever, valley-wide alumni basketball tournament.

Although many Cardinals fans are still caught up in post-season basketball fever with the WP men's team in the final eight, the first Touchet Valley Basketball Tournament is just around the corner, March 18 and 19 at Kison Court.

"This is the first," organizer and Cardinals announcer Fred Hamann said. "These are the players from yesteryear: the guys (and "girls") with the heart and desire. It's fun to see they still have it."

If other recent, local alumni tourneys are any indication, the turnout should be big enough to make it an annual event, said Hamann, who is himself a self-proclaimed underperformer as a C squad player three decades ago .

A tournament in Dayton earlier this year drew about 25 "yesteryear" Bulldogs, who gave the 2011 varsity team a run for its money. About 75 Cardinals of various ages showed up for the last WP tournament two years ago.

Hamann, who is putting together the event as a fundraiser for the Cardinals' press-box project, said two men's teams and one women's team have already registered for the tourney, which will be just alumni this time as current students will be wrapped up in spring sports by then.

"To make a go of it, we wanted to invite alumni from all three communities - Waitsburg, Prescott and Dayton," Hamann said, explaining there's already plenty of camaraderie among the players and fans of today to make for a friendly competition.

As the event poster puts it: "Winners will be publicized and retain all bragging rights throughout the valley."

Dayton women's head coach Scott Hudson is on board with the program, and Hamann has also contacted men's head coach Roy Ramirez.

"There's a bit of a buzz," said Hamann, who's likely to stay on the sideline during the court battles.

"I suck," he said about his playing abilities.

Entry fees are $100 per team, and game tickets are by donation. There will be paid officials from the Blue Mountain League.

For registration or more information, call Fred Hamann at 509-520-9882, Scott Hudson at 509-382-3120 or Joe Estes at 509-629-1004.