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It’s time to get your hoops on
By JOHN BASSETTI
YOUNGSTOWN
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The Gus Macker3-on-3 basketball tournament has a unique setup, with back-to-back baskets allowing for many games to be played simultaneously.
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Greg Finnegan, left, and Dolph Carroll of Youngstown Christian School set up fl ags in preparation for Saturday’s Gus Macker tournament in the parking lot at the Covelli Centre. Action begins early in the morning and lasts throughout the day.
Brackets, basketballs, backboards and bragging rights are all part of the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball tournament on Saturday at the Covelli Centre parking lot.
A field of 105 four-person teams will converge in the area off of Front Street where 15 courts will be set up for continuous play starting at 8:30 a.m., following opening ceremonies.
The event, originally scheduled for two days, has been condensed into one day.
“If you don’t have 110 [teams], you can opt to go to one day, so that’s what we decided to do,” said Dolph Carroll, the basketball operations officer for the event.
“It doesn’t cost anything to enjoy an activity that promotes the city,” Carroll said of the event that welcomes families.
“It’s an opportunity to capitalize on a valuable asset,” Carroll said of the venue and its value.
Although the Macker 3-on-3 is one of hundreds across the country this summer, Saturday’s event in Youngstown is the second annual.
The local 3-on-3 was secured and organized by Youngstown Christian School and its support system. Mark Pecchia is the tournament director.
Last year’s inaugural Macker under Youngstown Christian’s umbrella had 59 teams.
A sizable chunk of Carroll’s work leading up to this weekend was devoted to team registration and recruiting officials.
“There are last-minute details for hotel reservations and making sure the courts are ready to be put up,” Carroll said.
Teams were pre-registered, so walk-ups aren’t permitted.
Volunteers, too, are needed to keep the Macker running smoothly.
“The churches have to be organized and ready because they distribute water to players,” said Carroll, emphasizing the Christian outreach aspect of the event.
For spectators, concessions will be available.
“It’ll be a fun setting,” said Carroll.
Capitalizing on the theme and spirit of the day is a team with a catchy name: “We’re Not as Good as We Look.”
Its roster comprises Jim Mash, Marc Russell, Jon Vivo and Rick Weimer.
If four-person teams don’t compute with 3-on-3, there’s an answer.
“The extra person is a sub if someone is tired or injured,” Carroll said. “Many of the teams will be competitive and a lot will be for fun,” Carroll said of the various levels.
Twenty portable courts were delivered, courtesy of Dart Transport of Columbiana.
Carroll believes that the local Macker’s equipment came from Buffalo, which had a 900-team tournament.
Other similar events held in the region this summer were in Erie, Pa.; Ironton; Chillicothe, and Lancaster.
Youngstown will use 14 or 15 basketball hoops of heavy metal construction that will be erected back-to-back in a row. Court dimensions are 35-x-35, the boundaries of which are colored tape adhered to the parking lot.
A special attraction will be the “Dream Court,” which will be the focal point of the layout.
The “Dream Court” is reserved for only two tournament sites per weekend.
Gus Macker founder Scott McNeal will also be on hand, primarily to witness the first Heroes Division competition. The concept — to honor military and police and fire personnel — was devised by Pecchia.
McNeal conceived Gus Macker in 1974 in his driveway in Lowell, Mich.
“It’s quite an honor,” Carroll said of McNeal’s visit.
To give the local Macker a foundation for the future, sponsorship is needed, Carroll said.
“We need people to come to see what our vision is and how big it could actually become and maybe they’d want to be part of it. We’re trying to do some things beneficial to the city and our people.”
Prizes include trophies for first-, second-, third- and fourth-place teams. A 3-point shoot-out and a slam dunk contest are other prize-awarding events.
Carroll doesn’t think it should be much of an effort, just an ounce of bounce, to converge on downtown on Saturday.
“People should take pride in their community and feel good about it. I believe in what we’re trying to do. There’ll be a lot of basketball going on.”