With gas prices climbing and the cost of living increasing every day, Gus Macker Tournament Director Tom Revoir said he was nervous about attendance at this year’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament, but with 427 teams made up of 1,708 players, those issues don’t seem to have affected participation in Norwich’s 13th year of the Gus Macker.

Teams from all over New York state, as well as many from as far away as North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts and more, are in town this weekend to play basketball and have fun. “We’re excited and happy that with today’s economy, people are still coming out to support this event,” said Revoir. “They’re coming because it’s a good quality event.”

After 13 years, the Macker in Norwich is still going strong, and few things have changed over the years. This year’s event, like those in the past, will include a minimum of 1,200 traditional 3-on-3 basketball games; a three point shot competition for women, sponsored by Caputo Bros.; a slam dunk competition for men, sponsored by Mirabito Fuel and Mang Insurance; the Tom Schwan Kids’ Court, presented by The Evening Sun and Frontier; and the Frontier Dream Court.

Although there have been some difficulties, Revoir said participation has stayed level over the past years because the YMCA decided to limit the number of participating teams eight years ago in order to preserve the quality of the event. “If it wasn’t limited, I’m sure we could go to 500, 600 even 700 teams,” he said. “Thirteen years, and we’re still going,” said Revoir. “Only a handful of Macker Tournaments out there have made it beyond three terms (nine years), and we’re one of them.” Revoir said the reason the Norwich Macker has remained successful is because from day one, it was put together right.