Passion for the game

TURNER - A lot of high school teams use the term family to describe themselves, and rightly so, but when it comes to high school sports in Montana, no school has closer-knit teams than the boys and girls basketball teams in Turner.

No matter where you go in Montana, high school basketball is a big deal. When the days get short and the weather gets cold, people take to high school gymnasiums. While, more and more, people are also finding other things to do besides watch high school basketball games, in some places there's nothing people would rather do than go to a gym and watch the kids play.

One of those places where high school basketball trumps all is Turner.

In fact, in Turner, the Tornadoes are as important as they have ever been because, just like basketball in the small community, the Tornadoes are a way of life.

"I don't really know how to even explain it," Turner girls head basketball coach Jennifer Baird said. "It's just different. The support that you get here is amazing. The people really care. I came here from Chinook and so I was a little worried, being from a rival town, but everyone has really embraced me. It's exciting because the whole town comes out for the games, and they really are passionate about it."

When Baird said the entire town comes out for each game, she wasn't lying. Whatever day of the week it is, and no matter who the opponent is, just about everyone in town packs the gymnasium at Turner High School to watch the Tornadoes, which only adds to the family atmosphere.

"My basketball team is my family," Turner junior Ella Billmayer said. "We come from a great community that really supports us in everything we do. We have two sports here (basketball and track), so we take them pretty seriously. Basketball is a passion for all of the younger kids. You see them come to the games - and there are so many kids at the games - and that's pretty cool."

However, the atmosphere is so fun and exciting that even opposing teams enjoy coming to play the Tornadoes, mostly because the fans and the players are so into the games.

"Our kids love playing (in Turner)," North Star head coach Waylynn Burgess said. "The crowd is right on top of you and they are always really into the game. It's just a really fun atmosphere for a basketball game."

Billmayer, who is the leader of the girls basketball team is a great example of the how playing basketball in Turner really is all about family. She is one of three siblings that have played for the Tornadoes. Her brother, Tristian Billmayer, also played for the team, and now her younger sister, Sarah Billmayer, an eighth-grader, is her teammate.

"I used to play a lot with my older brother," Ella Billmayer said. "He passed away last year and, so now, I am playing for him and just trying to continue on with that tradition. We have always, always had a passion for the game."

Billmayer said she and her siblings learned to play basketball at a young age, shooting around on their hoop outside, a practice that she and her sister continue to this day.

"We have a hoop out in our shop," Billmayer said. "So sometimes we will go out there and play a game of PIG. Not only do we play at home and stuff, but we are constantly playing. Whether it's at open gym or somewhere else, we are always playing."

Turner, like many rural towns in Montana that thrive on farming and ranching, has had to deal with a diminishing population, which means a shrinking enrollment for the school. That means that the Tornadoes, who are one the smaller schools to compete, even at the Class C level, have to count on everyone in order to field a team.

"It's kind of the heart and soul of the community," Turner head boys basketball coach Kevin Van Valkenburg said. "For how a little town it is, the gym is pretty much packed. It's been that way since I was in high school. It gives the kids a purpose and just about everybody here plays. I think right now we have 17 kids in our high school and every kid goes out for basketball.

"It's overwhelming," he added. "To keep it going like we have just shows how much it means to everyone in the community. It really is the heart and soul of the community. You look at these kids - and even going back to elementary school and stuff - and even at halftime (of varsity games) all they do is play basketball."

Van Valkenburg, who is serving as Turner's head coach for the second time, knows as much about Turner basketball as anyone. He played for the Tornadoes back in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the excitement around basketball was at its peak.

Back in those days, the Tornadoes were one of the better teams in the Northern C and made the divisional tournament on multiple occasions.

Yet, a Turner team has never made it to state.

"Those were the glory days," Van Valkenburg said. "We got third at districts one year when I played and we actually got to go to divisionals, which was a big thing for us. And then a few years later, they actually lost in a challenge game (at divisionals) to Belt. My brother was on that team.That was as close as we have ever come to making it to state."

And even though the Tornadoes have not had success like that in decades, the support from the community has never waned and now, when the wins don't come as often, they mean even more when they do.

"It's just a big booster for the whole community," Van Valkenburg said. "But win or lose they are there to support you. They want to see you win, but they understand, too, when you have teams like Box Elder, who everyone they have is a junior or senior, that is tough, but the community is always good that way. Win or lose. Sure, they like to see us win, but they are always there, no matter what."

Like many families in Turner, basketball runs deep through the Van Valkenburg house and one thing that truly makes it a special affair for them, is the fact that Kevin, gets to coach his son, Bret Van Valkenburg.

The younger Van Van Valkenburg is like many in Turner. He grew up around the game of basketball, watching his father and other family members play, all while waiting for the chance to someday shine.

"There isn't a lot more to do," Bret Van Valkenburg said. "We don't really have other sports, so we go watch all the basketball games. I have been playing basketball for as long as I can remember. It's just something to go outside and play around on the hoop.

"When I was little, I went to every game," he added. "And we would always shoot around and play at halftime. That's just what you do in Turner."

The Tornadoes may not win a lot of games, but to the people of Turner, basketball is about much more than winning. It's a way for a small, tight-knit, community to stay together and a way for the town to support its youth.

It's sometimes easy to forget the importance of high school sports and why they are truly important to each and every community where they exist. But, Turner has always had its priorities right and that's why, no matter what happens, basketball will always matter in Turner.