SPOKANE, Wash. — This year's Hoopfest will be the first time in a long time Andrew Vathis won't be there.
The beloved South Hill icon died after he was hit by an SUV on January 25 earlier this year.
His joyous personality and friendliness still stick with many in the community. That's how his Hoopfest team plans on honoring him in the special needs division.
With every dribble, pass and shot, win or lose, the Ben and Jerry's Coneheads will play Andrew Vathis’ way.
"Andrew’s way means just kind of go out there and have fun," player Austin Breen said.
Player Joseph Devery chimed in.
"Definitely his love of the game," he said.
Those who knew Vathis say he just had a way of keeping it simple.
"That’s what makes sports great, is guys like Andrew," player Alex Bowdish said.
It was 13 years ago, Andrew wanted nothing more than to play for a Hoopfest team. He wanted to start his own. Kari Conner sponsored that desire.
“This was the highlight of his whole year," Conner said. "As soon as the weekend was over, he’d be looking forward to next year and when we were going to start practicing for next year.”
He became the Coneheads jokester.
“We were playing in a game and I missed a couple of shots," Jim Breen said with a smile. "He walked a couple of courts down and asked a guy to replace me because I wasn’t playing good.”
But he was also full of sportsmanship.
“He hugged all the teammates and everybody on the opposing team if they had a good shot," Conner said. "He’d go over and give them a hug.”
Austin Breen agreed in a joking fashion.
“He was always cheering for the other team, half the time I didn’t even think he was on our team," he said.
"Andrew’s Way" is a way of life and it’s a mantra that will be on the Coneheads' jerseys.
“Andrew’s way of playing, Andrew’s way of living, it was always so positive and so we wanted to remember him this year," Conner said.
Hoopfest will also be honoring Vathis. The elite division medals will have a silhouette of him on them with his initials. There will also be a moment of silence before the games begin on Saturday at 7:45 a.m.