Macker planners push for crowds

The basketball event will be Aug. 1-2 at the Covelli Centre parking lot.

By John Kovach

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Christian High School and the Covelli Centre would like to build the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament into an annual regional attraction in hopes of bringing thousands of people here.

“What is unique about it is it brings in a lot of spectators,” said Dolph Carroll, the Youngstown Christian boys varsity coach.

Carroll is part of a school committee that is organizing the event for both male and female basketball players of all ages that will be on Aug. 1-2 in the arena’s parking area.

“This is the first year and we want to do it the best we can and we want to build on it every year and make it an annual attraction,” Carroll said.

There will be four divisions of competition: junior (18-and-under), adult (19-and-over), adult top (19-and-over, most experienced) and 30-and-over. Entry fee is $32.50 per player or $130 team.

“We will [arrange] about 16 outdoor courts and place them in the parking lot,” said Carroll, noting that four players are allowed on the roster of each team. “We will use the Centre concessions and restrooms. It will be just like having an event at the Centre, except that it will be outdoors.”

Carroll said that as a typical example of Macker Tournament drawing power in Ohio, that “Cambridge had [20,700] spectators [last year] and that’s what we are trying to do to revitalize the community.”

Cambridge’s attendance was based on 361 teams and 1,444 players. Other Ohio cities also did well: Zanesville 585 teams, 2,340 players and 22,000 spectators; Mansfield 163, 652 and 6,300; Chillicothe (youth) 232, 928 and 8,000; and Findlay (youth) 80, 320 and 2,750.

The 2008 national championship in Indian Wells, Calif., attracted 11,798 teams, 47,192 players and 465,700 spectators.

“If we can get 200 four-man teams which is 800 players for our first tournament, that would be absolutely phenomenal,” Carroll said. “This is the first time that anyone has done it here. They have done it in Sharon. That was closest.”

He said the tournament will be a friendly family environment, and that admission is free.

“The fans will be watching a lot of kids play basketball and it will be a family atmosphere where people will be coming in from families and high schools to support the players,” Carroll said.

Also on the Macker Tournament committee are Jim Antes, Mike Pecchia, Bob Houston, Mark Pecchia, Greg Finnegan and Melissa Lias.

Carroll said that the tournament originally was scheduled for June 12-14, but had to be pushed back to Aug. 1-2 because the committee got a late start organizing the event.

“We didn’t get enough done quick enough. We just felt that we [needed] enough time to make it a success,” said Carroll. “We had had 45 teams at the time and we wanted a minimum of 100 teams because the bigger size of it will make it an event that will benefit the city and that everyone can enjoy.”

He said that to get the word out, “Macker gave us 3,500 names of people who have played in a Macker tournament from Ohio. And we sent out 12,000 brochures with registration forms.”

In addition, he said information and registration forms are available on-line at www.macker.com.

Deadline to register is July 10 (post-marked mailed forms) and July 20 (for on-line registration). More information also is available by calling (330) 788-7022.

Carroll is optimistic that the first tournament here will succeed.

“I think [registration] will pick up. Our biggest problem was that people didn’t know we were going to have it. We didn’t begin promoting it fast enough. And then there were some other 3-on-3 tournaments in the area where you can just walk up and enter. But in the Macker tournaments, no walkups are allowed.”

kovach@vindy.com

Macker tournament | At a glance

Rosters must have four players. Players can appear on only one roster. Each team plays three players at one time. Each player must bring an ID to the tournment.

Four divisions of competition: Junior (18-and-under), adult (19-and-over), adult top (19-and-over, most experienced) and 30-and-over.

Double-elimination with a bracket called the Toilet Bowl for teams losing their first two games. Teams are guaranteed a minimum of three scheduled games.

A standard goal is worth one point while a basket made from behind the designated line counts as two points. Possession will change after each basket.

In the adult divisions, players call their own fouls and violations. Free throws will be awarded after seven team fouls are committed. In the adult top division, games will be called by a registered official.

A GusBuster will be on each court to maintain control of the games. Each game will have a 25-minute time limit.

No roster changes may be made after 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the tournament weekend.

As a general rule, interscholastic and intercollegiate basketball players are eligible to participate, but players are advised to check with their coaches and/or athletic directors to ensure compliance.

More information is available at www.macker.com or from (330) 788-7022.