University Place B-Ballers: Test Your Skills In Kent Tournament

Break some ankles. Fade-aways. Swish.

If this is the kind of stuff you utter in your sleep, then University Place, it's time to show your stuff Saturday in Kent.

The ShoWare Shootout three-on-three outdoor basketball tournament tips off at the ShoWare center in Kent. The second annual event covers multiple age groups for both men and women and has a wheelchair division.

The ShoWare Shootout — one of the biggest events in the state — is the brainchild of Steve Turcotte of Game Time Events, a name familiar name with prep basketball fans in the area.

Turcotte organizes several high school basketball showcases during the winter and is working on scheduling a pre-season game featuring the Seattle University men’s basketball team at the ShoWare Center this November.

The tournament is one of several three-on-three tournaments that take place in Washington during the summer months. The Spokane Hoopfest is the largest tournament, with several others in equitable size to the ShoWare Shootout working to fill the want for three-on-three tournaments. Turcotte said the appeal of not needing to field an entire five-person starting lineup is what appeals to basketball enthusiasts about three-on-three tournaments.

“It’s a different kind of format from the typical five-on-five full-court kind of a deal. If they don’t have enough buddies that can play, they can just grab two buddies and the three of them can go and play. You’re guaranteed three to four games, so you’re not just going down there for a one-and-done deal.”

Turcotte expects the tournament to draw around 150 teams this year, but the courts available have the potential to hold more. The 2010 event featured 161 teams.

“We can actually hold up to 250-300 teams with the courts we’ve got. Hopefully in a couple of years we can get up to that.”

Divisions are broken up by age and gender, along with a co-ed division. Turcotte said they are no restrictions on what ages can play or who can enter a team.

“You find a team, we’ll find an age group bracket for you.”

Last years’ Shootout was without referees, relying on a “call your own fouls” system operated by the players themselves. The 2011 event will have a crew of volunteer officials, one for each court. The 2011 version will also feature a joint-venture with the Seattle Thunderbirds, a smaller tournament of four-on-four street hockey called “ball hockey.”

“We’re trying to get 8-12 teams to come down and play on Saturday and Sunday. It’s like three-on-three basketball, a lot less guys.”

A portion of the proceeds generated from the event will be donated back to the Kent Youth and Family Services. Because the tournament is part of the Subway Washington Games, put on by the Seattle Sports Commission, each bracket winning team will be presented medals and an additional championship t-shirt.

The registration deadline for the tournament has been extended to noon on Thursday. Teams can register at showareshootout.com.