Youth basketball tourney boosts Sisters economy

A total of 42 basketball teams from all over Oregon and Washington filled both the Sisters High School and Sisters Middle School gymnasiums this weekend.

The Sisters Shootout Tournament has been going on for more than 20 years and is put together by the Sisters Park and Recreation District.

Both boys and girls in the fifth through eighth grades competed in the tournament.

Jerry Kaping, the tournament organizer, said not only is the event giving kids an opportunity to get off the couch and play basketball, it’s also helping our local economy.

“What we are trying to do is to bring as many people into our town as possibly as we can,” Kaping said. “All of our restaurants were packed last night. Our coffee shops were packed. The hotels are packed, and they all get a benefit from these teams coming out to our tournament.”

The event also attracted more than 2,000 spectators.

The winners got trophies and medals, and the rights to say they were Sisters Shootout champions.

On Saturday, the tournament held a slam dunk contest, a 3-point shootout and a hot shot competition.