Salem’s Hoopla concludes after record participation
About 4500 people took part in the annual basketball event; and Oregonian MMA update
The baskets which lined the streets surrounding the State Capitol building were taken down Sunday night, as the latest edition of Salem’s Hoopla came to a close. Players of all ages were on the street courts during course of three days this past week.
Numerous championships were presented to teams from Salem and beyond for everything from one-on-one and two-on-two titles, to the traditional three-on-three team competitions held on the pavement adjacent to the gold man pioneer atop of the 1938 capitol structure. If you had friends playing at Hoopla, chances are very good they posted a photo or two on social media.
All in all, it was a great weekend for competitors, who played beneath sunny, but not broiling skies over the past several says. An estimated 4500 people took part in the basketball happenings, with better than 1100 teams signed up.
Hoopla event director Jason Unruh says it was a record-setting week overall, and he heard from many people that Hoopla is their “go to” event of the summer.
“So many people have stopped me and said that this is their go-to event of the summer,” said a smiling Unruh.
“(Some of them) plan their summer breaks around this, or it’s their family reunion—and that means a lot.”
Indeed, visitors erected pop up tents or brought chairs. Players and fans alike lined up to sample a long list of dining choices set up around the Hoopla venue. The crowd interacted using smiles and handshakes to communicate with the large number of city and state law enforcement on hand as security.
Unruh says challenges the organizers have faced this year due to seismic construction near the capitol building has been dealt with well without any real issues impacting the game sites.
Next year marks the 25th year of Hoopla, and organizers have promised new additions to their weeklong program. Stay tuned.
More photos from Hoopla 2023 can be viewed via Facebook by clicking on this link.
MMA Oregonian-Update!
When we last had checked on former Keizer resident Becca Spivey, the thirty-something Ohio resident had two debut fights suddenly canceled on her. One match was dropped after mother nature swooped in to douse the outdoor venue with a big thunderstorm, the second one was called off after the opponent failed to complete preliminary paperwork to allow a Christmas-time bout to go forward.
But this past weekend, Becca finally took part in her first ever MMA battle—facing fellow Ohioan Wynter “Frostbite” Lowery in an event hosted in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was a tight bout.
Spivey (who has the nickname “Bully”) says that Lowery won the opening round of three, while she won round two—nearly ending the fight right then and there— all-but finishing her opponent with a head-arm choke hold late in the second.
“She told me afterwards that she was seeing stars,” says Spivey.
Unfortunately for Becca, the bell rang to end the round before a pin could be awarded.
Sadly for Spivey, she lost narrowly in the third and deciding round and fell by decision, 29-28.
It was a learning experience for both fighters—who were competing in their MMA debut match.
Spivey says it was a good bout.
“I have nothing to hang my head about,” says Becca.
“She was simply the better fighter on the night.”
Spivey has yet to schedule another amateur bout, but she says she will heal up and rest before pursuing another head-to-head battle. She does have plans to take part in a grappling tournament in early September.
Now you know.
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