Troy Activity Center plans to celebrate its completion
Back when the original timetable was estimated for the opening of the Troy Activity Center, it appeared that this past season’s boys and girls basketball teams would have a chance to break in the new venue.
Those Trojans seniors that closed out their prep careers in the old gym will get a chance to take the new court after all. Among Sunday’s activities at the unveiling of the Troy Activity Center will be a couple of basketball games featuring seniors from Troy, Libby, Noxon and Eureka.
Brady Selle, Troy school superintendent, said all eight senior boys from Troy plan to play on Sunday. Among the girls suiting up one final time will be Molly Harpole, the Lady Trojans’ top scorer from this past season.
“For somebody like her, that’s why we’re doing this … to allow her to play in the new gym,” Selle said. “We want to give her the opportunity.”
Tony Smith will push off retirement from coaching for at least one more game and will be courtside. Wally Winslow, boys basketball coach at Libby, will also be on hand – although it was still undecided if he would be an opposing coach or join Smith.
Selle said, “Hopefully, they can coach together since Tony coached Wally and then coached against him.”
Winslow was a standout cager for the Trojans back during his high school days. The plan is to have around six to eight players per team but if enough cannot be found, alumni might be called upon. Heading in, there appears to be a shortage of girls.
Montana High School Association guidelines appear to prohibit underclassmen from participating and Selle said the Trojans don’t want to take any chances.
The activity center celebration will get started at 2 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Community members will be able to get a good look at the new facility with tours. The Troy Booster Club plans to have a barbecue and offer concessions. The Kootenai Rocks climbing club will be on hand at the new climbing wall. And various activities will be staged with basketball tipping off at 5 p.m.
The racquetball courts will not be ready for use until at least a couple more weeks. Selle said that is the last part of the building to be finished. The hardwood floors have not yet been installed.
As for hoops, Selle said the idea came up to make the games a recurring event.
“We’d like to make this an annual event and have a senior class playing in it each year,” Selle said. “We would be more organized and charge admission to raise money for scholarships.”
Selle said no admission would be charged for Sunday’s games.
The Troy school superintendent has been heavily involved through every stage of the activity center. The ribbon-cutting will be a long time coming for Selle.
“It’s amazing … it’s consumed a large portion of my life over the last year, that’s for sure,” Selle said. “It’s pretty exciting to think that we’re going to be in it and using it.”