NORWICH – Two days before the registration deadline, only 187 teams had registered for the 14th Annual Gus Macker 3 on 3 basketball tournament, but in just a few days, the number had more than doubled, with 424 teams signing up to participate.

The Gus Macker Basketball tournament will kick off its 14th year on Friday evening, as teams made up of nearly 1,700 players flock to Norwich to register for the event. While most of the tournament games won’t officially begin until Saturday, the event will officially begin on Friday night.

Registration will open at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Norwich Fire House and close at 8 p.m. Players will have the chance to scope out the courts and get in some practice time before games begin on Saturday.

Providing some entertainment for the evening, the Norwich City Band will kick off their summer concert performances at 7 p.m. in East Park. The band will play traditional and contemporary favorites, including marches, Broadway tunes, and movie themes.