‘Ritzville Mafia’

State B: integral part of local basketball tradition

The annual State B Basketball tournament is a tradition for many die-hard sports fans, but it has also become a time-honored custom for a group of Ritzville residents. Every year, Ritzville residents and individuals with connections to the community gather together at the WIAA Hardwood Classic to volunteer their time and talents to the tournament.

Affectionately known as the “Ritzville Mafia” around 15 people at the State B tournament this year had direct connections to the Ritzville community. A few familiar faces, and voices, at the tournament include Dave Kommes, Kirk Danekas, Tony Vostral, Ray Bernard, Ron Snowden, Ty Fryberger, Gary Reilly and Dennis Sackmann.

For the majority of the Ritzville group, it all started with a helping hand and encouragement from John Miller over 25 years ago. The group created a strong bond over the years and volunteered their time at the tournament participating in a variety of roles.

Many in attendance recognize the voices of Kommes, Danekas and Bernard, who have combined experience of over 75 years. This year marked 25 years of service at State B for Bernard, and it also served as his final year as an announcer for the tournament. Bernard is currently the voice for the Gonzaga women’s team and announces games in Rosalia, which he will also retire from after next year.

Bernard, a 1969 graduate of Ritzville High School, announced his last game at State B on Saturday morning and had the honor of announcing his high school alma mater: the Broncos. Saying good-bye to the tournament, teams, fans and friends proved hard for Bernard, but having the chance to conclude his career at State B by announcing the Broncos was the highest honor there is.

“John Miller gave me a chance in ‘89 and he was our announcer in Ritzville for 41 years. And I owe a lot to him because he opened a lot of doors for me at WSU and Gonzaga,” Bernard said Saturday afternoon. “But I love my Broncos, I absolutely love my Broncos. And that was a thrill today to call their game.”

Throughout the past 25 years, Bernard has sat alongside Danekas announcing the boys’ games at the tournament. Seven years ago, Kommes had the opportunity to join the duo on the other side of the court, after working as a statistician and scorekeeper on the girls’ side for 15 years.

As part of the “Ritzville Mafia,” the group has a strong voice with directors of the tournament, and many of the directors have direct ties to the Ritzville community. The opinion and recommendation of this group carries a lot of weight and can be a large part of getting a foot in the door with the tournament.

Ten years ago, with the support of Kommes, Sackmann had the opportunity to begin keeping scorebook on the girls’ side of the tournament. Sackmann began keeping book in Ritzville while his daughters played basketball for the Lady Broncos and enjoyed having the opportunity to follow the team to State B.

Another familiar face, Vostral, has been an important part of the tournament for 25 years. Though an injury prevented him from working at the tournament last year, Vostral did not skip a beat to return to the hardwood to help at the tournament this year.

Vostral has run the clock for the Broncos in the home gym since 1977 and has worked a variety of jobs at State B. This year allowed Vostral to be a “jack of all trades” and help wherever he was needed on the court, including running the shot clock for four games.

For the group of volunteers, the most important part of the tournament is the athletes and being able to watch them succeed and grow as individuals. The second is building and developing friendships between the volunteers at the tournament that are strengthened each year.

For Kommes, he returns every year for “The kids and the camaraderie. A lot of these people, this is the only time I see them during the year that work here at the State B. It’s a mini-vacation, a working vacation, but you get to see them and meet up with old friends.”

Sackmann shares in the sentiment and said the atmosphere is the best part because it provides the athletes with a positive environment and multiple opportunities.

A new up-and-coming member in the Ritzville group is Kommes’ son, Dustin, who volunteered his time at the tournament this year for the opportunity to work alongside his father. Dustin, a senior at Lind-Ritzville High School, has been volunteering at a variety of events and is hoping to use his volunteer experience at State B to network and develop a permanent role at the annual tournament.

Next year, Kommes will work to fill the shoes of Bernard by taking over as the boys PA supervisor at the tournament. The Ritzville connection will continue to be prominent at the tournament, and Kommes is honored to have the opportunity to step up in his role at State B.

Every volunteer from Ritzville shares in the humor of being a part of the “Ritzville Mafia” and enjoys the fact that Ritzville residents are so involved. Kommes believes the explanation for the large amount of Ritzville connection is simple and based on a natural desire to give back.

“People in Ritzville are just die-hard basketball people and they like working, they like volunteering their time,” Kommes said. “Every chance there is, if you ask a Ritzville person to work they will say yes. They want to work here, and the tournament directors know that the people from Ritzville know their job and will do it right.”

Bernard’s retirement from the State B tournament will not weaken the bond between the Ritzville group. Even though he is retiring, attendees of next year’s tournament can be sure to find Bernard in the crowd, but probably in a baseball cap instead of his usual suit and tie.

Bernard feels a connection to the tournament and the people, and it is a bond that can never be broken.

“The main thing I’ll remember is the people from all over the state and just the camaraderie that you build up with different teams,” Bernard said. “State B will also have a big place in my heart and I’m just glad that John Miller asked me to come up in ‘89. It’s been a lot of fun.”