Small gym resonates with big players

HELMVILLE - Basketball teams from Butte, Missoula, Helena, the Hi-Line and Helmville descended on the Helmville Community Center for the Helmville Community Club's 55th Annual Basketball Tournament Jan. 28-30. The purpose of the Tournament is to contribute to funding the Community Club scholarships, community needs and the upkeep of the Helmville Community Center. 

The current Helmville Community Hall replaced the old dance hall in 1958. The old dance hall was the venue for many dances, community dinners and movies. Locals remember the first fundraiser for the new Community Hall was a beef raffle won by Patricia Geary.  Another fundraiser to build the new Community Hall was a show with dancing, singing, tumbling and baton twirling put on by the school children. The show was so popular that they were invited to Drummond and Deer Lodge to perform. 

The Community had no vision of a basketball gym when they designed and built the new Community Hall. When basketball started in the Community, they merely fit the gym to the existing dance floor, which was about 65 X 40 feet, rather than the traditional 91-foot by 49-foot basketball gym. 

In 1967, Bob Sackman organized the first tournament. According to Organizer Randy Mannix, "Bob's love of basketball and the community probably motivated him to start the tournament." 

Bob brought in teams from as far away as Spokane. Locals remember new teams coming in the door and looking around, wondering where the gym was, hoping this was the locker room. Spectators sat along the gym wall on wooden benches and metal folding chairs, just outside the boundary line. During the games, 10 full sized packages of adrenaline and competitive engery raced up and down the court just inches from them. A veteran spectator said it was exciting and a little suspenseful to be so close to the game.

Over the years the Basketball Tournament has helped fund additions to the Community Hall. The stage was added on in the late 1970's which doubles as seating for the Tournament. In 1996 the roof of the gym was raised from 14 feet to nearly 20 feet and sound proofing was added. The low-ceiling gym gave a home court advantage during tournaments as visitors tended to dribble off the ceiling by accident. The latest addition in the early 1990's was the present kitchen and meeting/dining room. 

In addition to building improvements, the funds raised help fund scholarships for local young people, invest in the local Quick Response Unit and Volunteer Fire Departments and provide assistance for local individuals in need. Organizer Mo Mannix credits the support of the 57 sponsors listed in the program with the success of the Tournament in helping meet the needs by supporting the Community Hall, something she considers the community hub.

According to the record book, many teams have won the tournament more than once including this year's champions Team Copper Queen. They won in 2017, 2019 and 2020 as Ophus Auction Services. The longest reigning champs were Rip Hamilton's team from Helmville that won 1991-1993.

The Mannixes have organized the Tournament for more than 26 years. Every year up to eight teams participate.

"We believe in the cause of it. The gym has meant a lot to our family and community," Mo said. "We want to encourage the goodness and camaraderie of the sport. The magic comes from the souls of the players who love the sport."

The biggest challenges for them have been spreading the word about the tournament, keeping interest up in the community and housing the players for the weekend. 

"It takes many hands to make this work," Mo said. "We couldn't have a tournament without the great help from Lisa Bignell and others in the concession stand and everyone behind the scenes." 

They have continually tried to fit in outreach opportunities for others to be involved in the Tournament. If the grade school basketball team's schedule permits, they will play a scrimmage game between Tournament games.  

Between the games on Sunday, there is an American Heart Association Hoops for Hearts contest. The participants raise sponsorships and have a hot shot blitz free throw contest. The winner gets a trophy. Mo said every year $300-500 is raised for the American Heart Association. 

Sometimes there is a community member who has contributed in outstanding ways to the community. The Mannixes honor them with special mention in the program and a plaque given during the Tournament.

Mo said that some of her favorite memories are watching the local kids grow up playing in the gym, including her three boys, and then having them come to the Tournament with a team. 

"It's exciting watching the guys get so intense during the game," she said and added she always hopes for no injuries. 

The Mannixes also love meeting the players and many of them have become good friends. Mo added seeing the new teams' reaction to the gym size is always interesting. 

At this year's tournament, Helmville resident Renee Lyons reminisced about many of the faces of players that came through the door. She has watched them play for years and enjoys seeing them return. 

"Everybody keeps coming back," she said. "I don't know if it's just the cheeseburgers or the experience. This is a unique gym, there's no outside shots or full court press." 

Tournament participant Zack Bair of Butte has been playing in the tournament for 11 years and has been a past Most Valuable Player. He said this is his favorite tournament and loves coming and playing in the small gym. "It's different but that's why we come back every year," said Bair.

Tournament participant Cole Mannix from the third place Helmville team grew up with the tournament.  

"It feels like a fixture at the end of January, just like Christmas is at the end of December," Cole said. "It's a reason to come together and I love it." 

Cole's teammate Logan Mannix added, "The tournament is part of the soul of the town. It's really important to hang onto events like these."