Game time: Wedding bells won’t drown out battle of the SHS classes

By Dixon Bledsoe

Silverton High alum Davis Martin is doing something on his final day as a bachelor that has his bride worried might lead to a black eye, sprained ankle or bloody nose.

No, he’s not doing extreme sky diving or taking a road trip to Las Vegas. He’s donning something totally expected.

On May 19, Martin is playing in the May Madness Basketball Extravaganza. The event features teams of men and women alumni returning to the courts of Silverton High School for a little friendly competition. Sponsored by Silverton Rotary, the proceeds from the 5 to 8 p.m. event go toward scholarships for high school seniors and the Rotary exchange program.

Martin greets his bride at the alter Sunday, May 20.

“Irene Johnson and I are getting married the next evening, and she is not thrilled with the idea of me walking down the aisle with a limp or a black eye,”  Martin said, “but she knows how much I love this event and playing against all the other alumni through the years.”

The extravaganza includes a three-point shooting contest, prize drawings, Future Fox players and more.

The event is a great way to see former players including Brent Satern, Katie (Bothum) Kuenzi, Scott Gragg, Brett Davisson, Kelsey Palmer, Mary Purdy, Elisa Stadeli and Doug and Daniel Roth.

Then there is the rivalry between the Roth and Martin families. Not exactly of Hatfield and McCoy intensity, but they are two great basketball families with a lot of history, friendships, and a lot of great basketball players.

To give you an inkling of how important this tournament is in establishing who is really top-o’ the-heap, consider both the Roth and Martin men are playing in the tournament the day before the wedding. (Note: Karen Martin was a Roth, and sister to Doug and Steve.)

Doug Roth and his nephew Daniel Roth, a Class of 2011 graduate, will be playing in the tournament – although on different teams. Each team is established based on year the player graduated from high school.

“The Martin/Roth rivalry has always been around, no matter what we’ve been doing,” Daniel Roth said. “Playing basketball, cards, you name it. This will be a battle for bragging rights, and whoever beats the other will have those credentials for a year.”

Steve Roth, brother to Doug and dad to Daniel, may not be able to play in the tournament. SHS Junior Toby Roth can’t play because – well, he’s not an alum.

Jason Martin said there is certainly a rivalry among his three brothers and him as well as his cousins.

“The game pitting me and Jason Martin against Davis will be the most competitive,” Daniel Roth said. “It’s just the way we are – we want to win.”

The Martin boys have been regular winners at the 3-on-3 Hoopla tournament in Salem for the last four years in the Family Division.

Karen (Roth) Martin played college hoops at George Fox, as did Andrew, Taylor, and Davis. Jason played at Chemeketa and Steve and Doug Roth played at Western Baptist (Corban College).

Andrew and Taylor, twins from the class of 2004, will be playing and holding nothing back. Neither will Davis Martin (Class of 2007) and “little” brother Jason, still taunting the his brothers with his team’s (2010) third place trophy at the 5A state tournament.

The Martin/Roth families are fierce competitors – even amongst siblings.

“I don’t plan on hurting myself, but I will throw a few friendly elbows to my brothers’ guts if they get too close,” Davis Martin said.

Taylor Martin said it’s been cool to see his younger siblings and cousins “start getting to an age of being competitive. I’m excited to be knocked to the ground by one of them one day. And yes, Davis is getting married the next day. I might aim an elbow at him just so that I can really leave a lasting mark on his wedding pictures.”