The Moses Lake Chiefs pose after winning the 8th grade girls division bracket at the Best of the West, a large AAU tournament hosted by Hermiston Basketball Club.

More than 1,000 AAU basketball players from across the region from 3rd-8th grade descended on Hermiston last weekend for the Best of the West basketball tournament hosted by Hermiston Basketball Club.

Best of the West is quickly becoming one of the most popular youth basketball tournaments in the region. Coming from the Tri-Cities, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, Yakima, Lewiston, Tacoma, Boise and more, 101 teams comprised of 1,060 players participated. To compensate, the club used gymnasium facilities at Hermiston High School, Armand Larive Middle School, Sandstone Middle School, Desert View Elementary, West Park Elementary, Stanfield High, Stanfield Elementary and Columbia Court Club. In total, there were 15 courts going at 10 different sites.

In addition to the size, the amenities offered by the club have set it apart from other tournaments in the area.

HBC announces players pre-game, with dimmed lights included. Games are livestreamed through ALMS TV, a mobile app with all pertinent information, coaches gifts, and an All-Star game for one division where the top two players from each team are selected to play in an exhibition game.

“This tournament is good for the club and great for the community,” Traci Gammell, HBC treasurer, tournament director and registrar said in an email. “We hear time and time again that motels are sold out each weekend, restaurants are swamped and gas stations are busy. Hermiston Basketball Club is very proud of the hundreds of hours of volunteer work we do to benefit the club and the community!”

HBC’s next tournament is the For the Love of the Game tournament Feb. 13-14.

Champions:

Boys — 3rd grade: GW Hoops. 4th grade: Baker Bulldogs. 5th grade: Kennewick Lions. 6th grade: 509 Ballerz. 7th grade: ML Warriors.

Girls — 4th grade: NW Heat. 5th grade: Wildcats 5. 6th grade: Pasco. 7th grade: HD Basketball. 8th grade: Moses Lake Chiefs.

Runners-up:

Boys — 3rd grade: Hermiston Heat. 4th grade: Richland Gunners — Praino. 5th grade: Cayuse Young Chiefs. 6th grade: LC Elite. 7th grade: Richland Gunners. 8th grade: TC Firehawks.

Girls — 4th grade: Hoop Dreams Blue. 5th grade: Underdogs Elite. 6th grade: White Swan. 7th grade: Lady Braves. 8th grade: Grandview Wildhounds.