QUINCY, ILL. -- It's Memorial Day weekend and that means the Mack is Back. For the twentieth year, Gus Macker has shut down downtown Quincy. The streets and parking lots are lined with basketball courts. Some players are hopeful to win, others are just out there for the love of the game.
This year 566 teams were registered to compete in the Gus Macker Tournament. Kids as young as five put together teams for this legendary 3 on 3 tourney. Some of the teams are repeats from last year... but as for others... they've had to make some cuts.
"We've had players get injured and stuff so we had to switch it every year," says ten year old Donovan Prost.
Even though each team is guaranteed to play at least three games, winning is not all that's on these young athlete's minds.
"Just playin and having fun," says Jackson Connell.
"It's fun and you just go all out all the time," says Prost.
It may seem like just a hot weekend outside playing basketball... But don't let the players hear you say that. Some of these teams have been practicing for weeks.
"Sometimes we'd just kind of shoot around and sometimes we run plays and we have free throws and layups," said ten-year-old Jack Brown.
Not only do the players enjoy playing in the games. The parents on the sidelines, enjoy watching.
"It's great to see the teams come together and the sportsmanship... Just the kids having a good time," said Donovan's mom Ariel Prost.
With clear skies and temperatures near 90, it was hard NOT to have a good time. And for those players, and their loyal fans, who thought it was TOO hot, well, they took full advantage of the water spouts at the park.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKHQA