A player from Tunnels to Towers team drives for a layup Sunday during the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament in downtown Jackson. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
The future of the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament appears to be secure for a number of years based on numbers.
Tournament organizer Kyle Liechty said a majority of the more than 200 teams were in the 18-under category.
“We have a lot of teams in the 7 to 14 age brackets … that is a good sign,” Liechty said Sunday.
The tournament increased the number of teams by 80, according to Liechty. Play began on Friday with the County National Bank Heroes Tournament with the Summit Township firefighters winning that inaugural event.
Team play began Saturday and the tournament featured the CP Federal City Slam Dunk Contest and the Flagstar Bank Lightning Contest later in the day.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Lyle Torrant Center in Jackson.
Gus Macker works with the city of Jackson to put on the tournament in downtown Jackson – along Michigan Avenue and South Jackson Street.
“The Jackson City Parks and Recreation Department supplies us with a number of volunteers,” Liechty said. “Nearly half of the volunteers are from that department.”
It takes approximately 80 volunteers to put on the tournament.
The Gus Macker notes on its website that “Jackson is raising up to the next level by expanding courts throughout the city, connecting guests with greenspace for popups, aligning courts around shaded viewing areas, and connecting guests a variety of small businesses and restaurants scattered throughout the city.”
The tournament returned to downtown Jackson in 2018 and Liechty told Bart Hawley earlier in the week that the “Macker people were thrilled about last year.”
Play continues today until approximately 5 p.m. with a number of finals scheduled for this afternoon.
A listing of teams, players, and a results icon can be found at www.macker.com/Jackson-Mi/.
