Helena Chamber Hosts SWISH Youth Basketball Tournament Across Lewis and Clark County

The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce Sports and Tournament Committee hosted the SWISH youth basketball tournament across Helena, East Helena and Montana City, the chamber said, bringing boys’ and girls’ divisions for grades 3/4 through 8 to school gymnasiums across Lewis and Clark County. The two-day event ran March 7 and 8, with the HelenaMt.com listing showing a March 7 start at 8:00 a.m. and a March 8 end at 6:00 p.m.

Organizers ran registration through Exposure Events and Helenamt, with Helenamt noting a registration deadline of Friday, February 27 and an entry fee of $375 per team. The Helenamt listing specified that the $375 fee "must accompany the liability release/entry form (part of registration)," and Exposure Events warned that "divisions are limited; therefore, we encourage you to register as soon as possible."

Game administration followed standard high school rules with local exceptions: Exposure Events and Helenamt directed that "all standard applicable basketball rules as found in the NFHS Basketball Rules Book will be used with the exceptions outlined on the rules sheet." Teams were encouraged to wear uniform shirts with visible numbers on the back and were recommended, though not required, to have numbers on the front.

Games took place at multiple school gyms across the three municipalities. Exposure Events listed specific merchandise sale sites and schedules, noting that Team Uptop sold tournament gear Saturday at East Helena High, Capital High and Helena High, and Sunday at Four Georgians Elementary and Prickly Pear Elementary. The HelenaMt.com event page included calendar integration and a venue map reference for spectators and visiting coaches.

Logistics and volunteer roles were tightly managed: Exposure Events instructed teams to provide contact information, writing, "We must have a cell phone number sent in with the team registration form so that we can contact the coach if there are any schedule changes during the tournament." The listing also reminded teams that "Passes for Coaches & Volunteers Coaches, please remember to pick up: -Your coach passes -Volunteer passes for the individuals running the clock or keeping the book for each of your games." The Helena School District asked organizers to share a Facilities Use Policy Reminder with anyone using district gyms, and Exposure Events attached that policy for teams to review before the weekend.

Local coverage captured on-court moments: the Independent Record and Helena Independent Record ran a gallery headlined "Youth basketball players took to the hardwood during the Helena-area SWISH Tournament," with photographer Sonny Tapia credited. For visitors seeking lodging or travel details, Helenamt directed callers to (406) 442-4120 or to its site for hotel information.

The chamber’s Sports and Tournament Committee coordinated the weekend logistics, merchandise vendor, pass distribution and facility reminders as the SWISH tournament concluded on March 8, leaving organizers with outcomes to compile, including team lists, brackets and any post-event reports.