'It's about creating memories': Hundreds of teams participate in Hoop It Up 3v3 basketball tournament

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Downtown Milwaukee is used to seeing professional basketball, but this weekend, dozens of kids, adults, and everyone in between got to show off their hoop skills outside of Fiserv Forum.

Hundreds of teams packed into Deer District to compete in the Hoop It Up 3v3 basketball tournament -- a nationwide tour for all ages and abilities that was founded in 1989.

This is the first time the tournament has returned to Milwaukee in years, and officials said the Brew City is also the only place in the Midwest region the current tour is stopping at.

"People have come as far away as Ohio and Pennsylvania so they came in for Hoop It Up, coming in here and enjoying downtown Milwaukee and the Deer District," said George Daniel, the CEO of Big Ticket Sports. "It’s just been a great event all weekend.”

But organizers added that about 90% of the participating teams this weekend are local -- including a fiery group of 13-year-olds who play on the Wisconsin Lakers -- a team based out of Lake Country.

"We are 3 in 0, so two more games today," said teammate Peace Petzold. "It's really fun!"

Tenleay Neal added that being able to compete is a good chance to work on building their skills.

"It really gives us opportunities to see what we need to work on," Neal said. "We've been playing for a long time."

Kyleigh Grass and Violet Schultz agreed, noting the team is "aggressive" when they play together.

“Just cause we’re girls doesn’t mean we’re any less than boys," said Cayle McGowan. "And nine times out of 10, most of the time we’re better than the boys!”

The event also featured a slam dunk and a three-point contest. 

Winners of each division will be invited to travel to Phoenix, Arizona in December for the championships.