SOUTH HAVEN — The Gus Macker Tournament will be making its second stop in South Haven July 30-31.

This year, the tournament is hosted by Youth Development Co./PAL and South Haven Public Schools. The event will raise money for YDC/PAL’S mentoring — after school and before school — and Summer Fun N’ the Parks programs.

South Haven Public Schools will benefit by money being added to the 2011 budgets of several extracurricular groups.

The Gus Macker is a nationally known 3-on-3 basketball tournament that travels across the country. Within Michigan, South Haven will be the last event on the Macker “Beach Tour,” where the traveling tournament has made stops all along Michigan’s lakeshore.

The final stop on this tour will bring an estimated 10,000 people into South Haven on tournament weekend.

Awards and cash prizes will be handed out at this year’s tournament. The tournament will also feature several special events, including a slam dunk contest, a 3-point shoot out and a free throw contest. The tournament will also provide a “Dream Court,” where teams are chosen at random to play on a special court with a play-by-play announcer.

South Haven High School has had several groups step forward to share in this year’s Macker proceeds. These groups include the high school choir, band, varsity and JV football teams and girls’ volleyball.

With the lack of funding for athletics, the proceeds from the Gus Macker tournament could provide a welcome boost for these groups.

This year’s tournament is bringing in only registered officials and Gus Busters. Once again, South Haven High School will be the location of this two-day event.

The central location is just blocks away from downtown South Haven’s shopping district, restaurants, and of course, our beautiful beach on Lake Michigan.

YDC/PAL and their sponsors along with the Macker staff hope that the proximity to town will bring more business to the downtown area.

For more information on the South Haven Gus Macker or YDC/PAL call (269) 639-2489 or visit them on the web at www.ydcpal.com and www.macker.com .