The NyaStrong Warriors Academy (NWA) concluded its summer 3-on-3 basketball season by outlasting five other teams to win the NWA Summer 3-on-3 tournament at Tenino Middle School.
The field of teams included Rochester’s Swifters, the Kelso Queens and the Lassi Queens, also from Kelso, and Tigers 1 and Tigers 2 from Oregon, according to NWA head coach Richard Durham. NWA defeated the Swifters, 13-0, in game one, followed by a 12-4 victory over the Kelso Queens in the second matchup. The NyaStrong Warriors Academy won the championship matchup of the tournament against the Kelso Queens, 12-4.
Durham said that in all three contests, NWA allowed zero baskets from the floor as all eight points scored against the team came from the free throw line. He highlighted incredible defensive and offensive efforts from his athletes as keys to victory in Tenino.
“Our summer season was amazing with this group of girls and families. Our overall record was 20-3 this season, and we played in four tournaments and won four championships,” Durham said. “We’ve been in Tenino less than 2 years. Our overall record since then is 43-3, eight tournaments and eight championships. I think the thing that sums up our summer league season best is our last tournament we played our best games of the year. We peaked at exactly the right time.”
Some of the coach’s highlights of the summer league season included seeing relationships being built on and off the court by his athletes, the team’s performance in its first tournament at Hoopfest in Spokane, and the overall family support at the Capital City 3-on-3 tournament.
“When it was all said and done, to see the looks on the faces of the girls and their families when we won the championship was the best part of that tournament to me. We did it together,” Durham said. “Lastly, our end of the season tournament this past Sunday. We played our best games of the year. The icing on the cake of that tournament was when the girls presented the championship trophy to [Tenino High School’s girls basketball] coach Gofinch and her program.”
The athletes, Kora Hadaller, Janna Perkins, Emma Ruiz and Emily Ruiz, agreed that summer basketball was worth all of the hard work. They each acknowledged the team’s three championship victories as indicators that hard work pays off.
Hadaller said winning tournaments was her biggest highlight of the summer.
“After winning Hoopfest, walking with the team to the ‘Castle’ to get our championship T-shirts,” Hadaller said as a highlight. “Also taking our trophy from the last tournament and giving it to the high school coach. It made her smile.”
Perkins said the best part of the season was the team’s performance at Hoopfest in Spokane.
“We won Hoopfest and did it together, and I really enjoyed playing tennis together after practice. That is so fun, and I’m thankful that coach added that in,” Perkins said.
The Ruiz twins highlighted team bonding aspects as their favorite aspects of the 2024 summer 3-on-3 season.
“My favorite part about summer basketball was a sleepover before the Capital City tournament and coming up with nicknames for the team,” Emma Ruiz said. “I like the music during practice and having a great coach.”
Emily Ruiz, added, “I looked forward to team meals before game day and having ice cream after winning the tournaments. We all put the work in and had fun doing it.”
Sammi Hadaller, Kora Hadaller’s mother, said she’s proud to have her daughter as part of the NWA basketball program.
“I saw my daughter grow as a player and as a person,” she said. “She is learning to not walk away from a challenge and to fight through tough situations.”
Kimberly Perkins, Janna Perkins’ mother, said that summer basketball with the NWA program has helped her daughter grow mentally.
“To be able to compute what went on around her and know what she needed to do in the situation helped her shine. This helped her understand what is needed of her and her team,” she said. “This will help her in sport activity, other organizations and even her relationship. I’m truly blessed to watch my daughter grow as an athlete in her community along with her amazing teammates.”
Rebecca Ruiz, Emma and Emily’s mother, said her daughters learned their strengths and also found out in which areas they need to grow more through NWA’s summer basketball program.
“Emma gained confidence driving the ball in and taking shots from the outside. Emily improved on rebounds. They both love the sport and play at home as much as they can. They now know they can provide great work if they provide great input,” Rebecca Ruiz said. “They both had an amazing summer season, and we know this is only the beginning. Thank you coach Richard for your commitment and dedication to the NyaStrong Warriors.”
Following the conclusion of NWA’s summer 3-on-3 basketball program, the team will take a break from basketball activity for the next month. Durham said the girls will eventually begin to do some team and individual training with a trainer.
“When we get back at it, we are putting together a 5-on-5 tournament team for fall and winter ball, with the program goal of qualifying and competing for the fourth grade state championship in March of 2025 in Spokane,” Durham said.
Most Popular
Comments / 0