LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB Fox 41)---Saturday's warm weather didn't stop people from taking part in the Hoop it Up Tournament, right in front of the WDRB Studios.
There are nearly 100 teams participating this year.
It's an event that has drawn in plenty of basketball players over the years.
"This is something I've always done, probably the last 25 years. It used to be the Street ball Showdown, but now it's Hoop it Up. So I used to play, but I'm too old now to play so I bring my kids out to play," says Jeff Griffin of Oldham County.
Children as young as 8 years old to adults, are all competing in their divisions with the same goal in mind.
"I'm looking forward to going 3-0 and then we go to New York," says Travon Moore of Louisville.
The teams that place 1st through 4th in each division qualify for the World Championships in New York.
"I want to really bad. That would be fun," says Dylan Yates from Goshen.
It's just one reason why this tournament is so popular.
"Kids really learn how to play the 2 man game and 3 man game and it's a little bit different from the AAU. Plus they don't call nearly as many fouls, so you got to be pretty tough. It gives them a little toughness to play," says Jeff Griffin.
It's not only the guys participating this year in the tournament.
A group of 13-year-old's from Crosby Middle School are the only girls competing!
"We lost our 1st game. We won our second," says Marlena Groves.
They were hoping other girls would be involved with the tournament.
"We didn't know we'd be playing against boys and we'd be the only girl's group here, so that was a surprise," says Marlena Groves.
They're still playing with the same goal of making it far in their division. They also enjoy making a statement on the court.
"To show people that girls can actually play and it's not just guys who can play basketball," says Frankie Harris of Crosby Middle School.
The Hoop it Up Tournament will continue Sunday morning.
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