Mike Fuller, left, Gus Macker regional event director, meets with Deb Beauchamp, event director, and Dave Beauchamp, officials coordinator, as registrations are invited for the downtown 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Iron Mountain. Online registration deadline is June 28 and the mail-in deadline is June 25. The event is July 17 and 18.

IRON MOUNTAIN — More than 20 years ago, Iron Mountain was known for having one of the largest Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournaments in the nation. Now, an ambitious group of community leaders who love basketball and children have joined together to make this hoops festival weekend happen again, July 17-18.

All games will be played with courts set up on Carpenter Avenue starting at Ludington Street to C Street. The 2021 team is proud to announce Bellin Health as the Gus Macker signature sponsor. Bellin staff leaders will be hosting the Dream Court, a specially “professional-like” designed court for young players.

Qualified officials will be calling each game and three special events will be held: slam dunk, dinky dunk and free throw. The slam dunk and free throw will feature cash prizes and the dinky dunk will award trophies.

Online team registration is now happening on the Gus Macker website at macker.com.

“The economic impact of having Gus Macker basketball return to our community will be significant,” said Jonathan Ringel, event co-coordinator. “This July is a great month for everyone to be outside with friends and family members and to exercise and have fun.”

Teams of four players can register for $160. Gus Maker tournament posters have been distributed throughout the local area, as well as Green Bay, Escanaba and Marquette. Thirty Gus Macker tournaments are being held throughout the U.S. during 2021.

The local team welcomes all players, spectators and volunteers to stay connected through Gus Macker updates in The Daily News, or viewing the macker.com website and the Gus-Macker-IM Facebook page.

Players of all ages (ages 4 to 94) and skill levels have participated in Gus Maker basketball games. The unique Macker bracket system puts players in competition with teams of similar age, experience and even size. Teams that struggle can win the “Toilet Bowl,” which is just one of the many cool trophies up for grabs.

Players are asked to register now.

Launch meetings have been scheduled for volunteers and officials. Volunteers can gather either this Thursday at 7 p.m. or Saturday, June 26, at 10 a.m. in the cafeteria at 217 W. Hughitt St., Iron Mountain. Officials will be meeting with Dave Beauchamp at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday at the same location.

“All proceeds go towards renovations and exhibits at the new Imagination Factory Children’s Museum,” said Barb Reisner, event co-coordinator. “In addition, funds will be donated for two popular early literacy programs for young children: Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read.”

For more information, contact Barb Reisner at barb@ourplacecc.org or Jonathan Ringel at jringel@nlymca.com.