Welcome, 3A tournament fans

For the first time since 1992, Lovell is hosting a regional basketball tournament.

And what fun it will be.

Our community is hosting the Class 3A West Regional Tournament as part of Class 3A’s rotating schedule, with boys and girls teams coming from Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale, Lander, Worland, Cody and Powell.

We welcome fans from far and wide to our basketball crazy community and our beautiful region and hope you will enjoy your visit. When not watching your team or another, we urge you to visit the nearby Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, which you will find to be spectacular, featuring amazing vistas, wild mustangs, historic ranches, great hiking and bighorn sheep.

First, stop by the National Park Service visitor center for an overview of what our area has to offer. Simply drive east on Main Street, turn left on U.S. 14A, then right into the visitor center parking lot. It’s a great place to visit featuring maps, books, gift items, films, displays and a friendly staff.

Return to the highway and drive east for two miles, turning left on Wyoming Highway 37, which will take you into the park. Check out Horseshoe Bend, a historic ranch or any number of hikes. And absolutely do not miss the view at the Devil’s Canyon Overlook, where Devil’s Canyon from the east merges with Big Horn Canyon running north and south. It’s one of the great views in the National Park Service system.

Look for bighorn sheep and Pryor Mountain wild mustangs along the way. The wild mustangs are descendants of the horses brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16^th century. Look for their primitive markings such as stripes on the lower legs. The park also features excellent hikes, teepee rings and more.

Back in town, visit the chamber of commerce office on Main Street for information, take in a movie at the historic Hyart Theatre, enjoy a game of bowling, visit a town park, get a bite to eat at restaurants in Lovell, Cowley or Deaver and enjoy some smalltown shopping.

You will find our community to be friendly and helpful, and we know our merchants and restauranteurs will put out the welcome mat. There are truly some gems here.

As for the tournament itself, the competition is wide open below favorites Cody (girls) and Lovell (boys). Any number of teams can punch their ticket to State.

We’re all looking forward to a great weekend of hoops. Welcome to Lovell.