Submitted photos – The Hoopa boys have now won 10 of their last 11 games.

By Ray Hamill — It was a successful weekend for both Hoopa varsity basketball teams, as they get set for their conference openers later this week.

The Hoopa boys and girls teams traveled to compete at the Etna tournaments and both took home a championship after going 3-0 over the three days.

The girls defeated Plumas Charter 76-14 in the final after earlier tournament wins over Etna and Butte Valley, and they are now 7-5 as they get set to tip off the Little 4 at South Fork on Thursday night.

Senior guard Ivy Lamebear was named tournament MVP for the second time this season after also earning the honor at the Trinity Holiday Classic before Christmas.

Teammate Maggie Morris also was named to the all-tournament team.

The boys also defeated Etna, Butte Valley and Plumas Charter on their way to the tournament championship, with Brandon Romero named tourney MVP and teammate Lyle McKinnon named to the all-tournament team.

The high-scoring Warriors outscored their three opponents by a combined 258 to 137, including scoring 100 against Butte and 98 against Plumas.

“A lot of things were clicking for us this weekend,” Hoopa head coach Roman Hutt said. 

Seven different Hoopa players scored nine or more points in Friday’s win over Butte.

“I love the way they share the ball,” Hutt said of the players’ complementary team ball. “A lot of our shots are falling and we’re getting a lot of open looks.

“I really can’t ask for more when they’re making the extra pass.”

McKinnon set the tone for the weekend with a double-double against Etna, scoring 19 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, while also scoring 18 points against Plumas and 10 against Butte, while Romero had a double-double in the final with 11 points and 10 assists and also scored 18 against Butte and 13 against Etna.

Both teams captains “played well for us as they normally,” the coach said.

So too did Brian Richards, who has been a monster on the boards all season for the team and is averaging a team-best 9.9 rebounds a game.

Ish E-kor also had a breakout game in the final with 18 points and six assists.

The Warriors have now won 10 of their last 11 games and are 11-3 on the season.

Submitted photo – The Hoopa girls and coaches celebrate their tournament win over the weekend.

The Hoopa girls, meanwhile, were equally impressive in their tournament, including a lopsided victory in the final.

In addition to the ever-dangerous Lamebear and Morris, senior Millennia McKindley also continued to impress for the Warriors, as the center adapts to a new role with the team this winter.

“She’s a really good volleyball player and she uses those skills on the basketball court,” Hoopa head coach Floyd “Cowboy” Billings said of McKindley, who averaged 12 rebounds a game over the weekend.

As the team gets set for their conference opener at South Fork on Thursday, Billings believes the Hoopa girls can challenge defending state champions St. Bernard’s for the conference title in the coming weeks.

In fact, the longtime Hoopa coach believes it will be a battle between his team, SB and an impressive Ferndale team for the title, with all three schools heading into conference play with winning records.

“It might end up in a three-way tie. That’s a possibility,” the Hoopa coach said. “I think that we’re all even. It just depends on what team shows up. I’m kind of excited for this year.”

Junior Sa-air Obie also has stepped up in recent games for the Warriors and is quickly adapting to the varsity level after leading the Hoopa JVs in scoring a year ago.