Hundreds of players and thousands of fans take the streets during the annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball tournament every year in July in Norwich. With the current COVID-19 pandemic canceling or postponing summer events, Norwich tournament directors Jamey Mullen and Tom Revoir made the difficult decision and added the 25th Annual Gus Macker to the list. (Frank Speziale Photo)

NORWICH – For 24 consecutive years, the Norwich Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament has welcomed-in summer and summer vacation for the area youth and families. The festival-like basketball tournament brings all kinds of people together in the spirit of charity and tourism in downtown Norwich.

During the first year the three-day basketball competition took over East Main Street, the event staff, players and fans were faced with the challenge of Hurricane Bertha. A storm that dumped plenty of rain up and down the east coast put a long pause on the games held in 1996. However, the tournament picked back up once the rain stopped and games were played long into the night.

In the 24 years that the Gus Macker has been a part of a Norwich summer, tournament directors Jamey Mullen and Tom Revoir have dealt with many elements that have paused play like thunderstorms and trains but not once has it ever been postponed or canceled.

After a long and difficult decision process, Mullen and Revoir announced the postponement of the 25th Annual Gus Macker tournament for this summer Friday night in a video posted to the Norwich Family YMCA's Facebook page.