Youngsters play hoops for local charities

MEEKER I Ten teams ranging from third- to eighth-grade participated in the fourth annual Hoops for Charity three-on-three basketball tournament Monday, benefiting local charities.
“It was a great day of basketball and all of the teams played well,” said Nicole Dupire of the ERBM Recreation and Parks District, sponsor of the event. “The event raised $300 for local charities.”
There were seven divisions and championships were won by the Thunderbolts, which included, Regan Mobley, Sarah Kracht, Hailey Knowles and Aspen Merrifield. The Thunderbolts chose Rio Blanco County Search and Rescue as the team’s charity.

Peter Hanks, Liam Deming, Zagar Brown and John Hampton Hightower were the Sparkling Warriors, who won the boys’ third- and fourth-grade division, playing to benefit the Meeker Streaker.

“The Four AmiBros,” pictured bottom left, included Brennan Ibach, Elijah Deming, Jake Shelton and Cole Rogers, who played for the Meeker Animal Shelter. They won the fifth- and sixth-grade division.

The best team on the Meeker High School court was Team Walsh, consisting of Barone Middle School classmates Trapper Merrifield, Stephan Walsh, Valentine Rosas and Logan Hughes, who won the seventh- and eighth-grade division, playing for Hope West-Meeker.
Other champions included “The Magnificent Four,” consisting of Megan Shelton, Kristen and Kassandra Luce and Ellie Anderson, who played for Horizons in the fifth- and sixth-grade girls’ division.
“Shots,” which included Taylor Dodds, Katlyne Brown and Riley Pertile, won the girls’ seventh- and eighth-grade division playing for the Meeker High School Scholarship Fund.