Fort Hall Classic Women's 50+ Tourney brings matriarchs to play
Morianna Washakie is embraced by her son Shotgun Washakie along with Kolin Washakie and Morning Star Washakie after being named All Star for the 2-N-Out team on April 6.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The Fort Hall Classic Women’s 50+ Tournament featured three teams battling it out on the court.
While the Hot Shots won the championship, the tourney meant more than a winning title — it represented these women’s love of the game and chance to show what they got.
Janet George played basketball since she was a little girl. She remembers her dad, Roger George, coordinating the Classic Tourney. His team was the Old Spirits with late players, Mel Alex and Wayne George.
When watching them play she said, “I used to think, ‘Oh man these old guys are so slow.’ But it wasn’t about winning, it was just about out there having fun and that’s what I think it’s about. The basketball, just out there having fun. Seeing your old friends, you know, and enjoying yourself.”
Janet George points to a memorial flag featuring her father's name Roger
George. She grew up playing basketball at Timbee Hall.
Her most memorable basketball highlight is making it to state at Sherman Indian High School.
Since then she’s kept up the sport.
“I love to play basketball, you know, and I just think over the years I thought, ‘Do I want to give up?’ No, get back out there. You still have it in you. Get back out there,” she said.
This was her first time competing in the 50+ for the 2 N Out team.
Women's 50+ division team 2-N-Out.
Janet was injured on Friday, when just five minutes into the game she went up for a shot and felt her calf muscle pop and couldn’t walk on it. The pain frustrated her, so she went to the doctor, who told her it was just a sprain. She was determined to power through and finished the tournament on Saturday.
She encourages those who still want to play to just get out there because basketball is good exercise. She advises them to practice and to keep an ear out for free agent team opportunities.
“So come out and have fun. Everybody still has a little basketball in them,” said George.
Morianna Washakie was named All Star for the 2 N Out team.
Her parents are Neville Dunn Sr. and the late Andrea Dunn.
She wasn’t going to play, but in May it will be a year since the passing of her mother and although her father is fighting cancer, he still came to support her in the crowd.
“They used to come and watch me when I played in high school, so I just thought, ‘Well,’I’ll give it a try,’” she said.
Ann Lindroth-Jim guards against an 80'z Ladies player.
Although they didn’t make it to championships Morianna was happy to play with the ladies who she’s been playing with a couple decades now.
“So it was really fun to get back into it. And all of us are grandmas, so it was nice and it was fun. I appreciate them asking me and having faith in helping the team, so it was a team effort of course,” she said.
Basketball has taught Morianna a lot in life, like patience and not to give up.
“You never know 10 points is not a far deficit, 15 either, we have a lot of three-point shooters on our team, so a few three-pointers can bring you back into the game,” she said. “Watching my sons play now, sitting there on the side I’m thinking, ‘Come on you guys, you can do it.’ So in the back of my mind I was doing the same thing and I just needed a quick breath and got back out there and just tried what I could.”
2 N Out lost 27 to 43 to the 80’Z Ladies on Saturday, April 6, ending their tournament play in third place.
