Hoops for a Cause to benefit a pair of local college athletes

One of the many, many great things that Montana State University-Northern head women's basketball coach Chris Mouat has done over his impressive tenure at Northern is starting the Hoops for a Cause camp.

And Mouat is bringing the 6th Annual Hoops for a Cause edition back to Havre.

The 6th Annual Hoops for a Cause will take place in Havre on Aug. 6. Coaches and players from Frontier Conference basketball teams have helped organize and run the event with the intent of helping someone in need.

This year, the event will be a 3-on-3 tournament rather than the one-day clinic as in past years.

Proceeds from the tournament will help two Frontier Conference student-athletes currently battling thyroid cancer. Jaynah Gopher of Rocky Boy, who is a current basketball player for The University of Providence, is currently undergoing radiation and other treatments following surgery. Jett Jones, a Sidney native and current MSU-Northern wrestler, is also recovering after a second major surgery.

Mouat, said, “We are looking forward to having Hoops for a Cause in Havre this year. We have the opportunity to help two of our own student-athletes this year and are looking forward to doing as much as we can for them. They have both had a tough battle and I think this is a great way to show that they have a ton of support from our conference.”

Games will be indoors at gyms throughout Havre. Each team will get three pool play games then a single-elimination championship play will occur in the afternoon. All participants will receive T-shirts courtesy of Game One. Awards will be given to championship teams in each division, courtesy of Master Sports.

There will be a free barbecue for players, parents and tournament staff from noon to 1 p.m. at MSU-Northern. At the barbecue, participants will have the opportunity to win prizes from Frontier Conference teams and other donors.

Previous Hoops for a Cause events have been held in Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Belgrade, and one was held virtually during the pandemic. Hoops for a Cause has helped raise over $53,000 in the past five years.

Mouat added, “This is a really unique event and it’s pretty amazing to see all of the support from our coaches and players who are able to attend the event. You see rivalries dropped for a day and people really on board with what we are doing as a league. I can’t thank the coaches and players enough for the past five years. Whether it’s been working the event, sending players to work, or always sending gear to give away, our coaches and players have been awesome. We are also fortunate to have the full support of our commissioner and our league which has been phenomenal. I think this year’s event has a chance to be our most successful ever.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available at varying levels.”

Registration is only available online, and there is a total limit of teams for the tournament. To register, use the following link: http://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?id=222328 . Anyone interested in helping sponsor the event can email Chris Mouat at [email protected].