SPOKANE, Wash. – For many players, Hoopfest is the biggest basketball weekend of the year. For Catch Spokane, it’s the chance to showcase the work that’s been put in long before the tournament begins.
The nonprofit basketball program provides coaching, training and mentorship to young athletes across the Spokane area, helping them develop both on and off the court. That hard work was on display throughout Hoopfest, where multiple Catch Spokane teams competed against programs from across the Northwest.
Coach Tracy Lebret said the success starts with the commitment his players make long before they arrive downtown.
“They play together, they know the discipline and the respect of the game,” Lebret said. “They go to trainings all the time. A lot of times it’s five days a week, six days a week. We play basketball. That’s what you’ve got to do is hit the gym.”
For Lebret, one of the most rewarding parts of Hoopfest isn’t just the wins. It’s seeing so many current and former players wearing Catch Spokane jerseys throughout downtown Spokane.
“Every corner I turn, I’d like to see a new Catch jersey, a new kid’s face all weekend long,” Lebret said. “I’ve seen probably a hundred kids I’ve coached or been around. It’s just a great feeling to see those kids succeed.”
Players also embraced the opportunity to compete against teams from across the region.
“It’s cool seeing all the teams from different places—Montana, Idaho, I think we saw one from California,” Mt. Spokane’s Madeleine Morrison said. “I love the positivity of my teammates. Even when they get knocked down, they still have a smile on their face.”
For some teams, this year’s tournament marked a first. This specific squad coached by Lebret made its Hoopfest debut after playing together since middle school.
“It’s been really good because our coach for Catch is my dad, and he’s doing really good with us and the program,” Taylor Lebret said. “More people are joining, and it’s really fun.”
As the organization continues to grow, Catch Spokane hopes Hoopfest serves as more than just a tournament it hopes the weekend inspires more young athletes to get involved in basketball and become part of the program.
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