They may not be able to dunk (with at least one notable exception) but a younger generation of players is also gearing up for another round with Gus Macker.

The 3-on-3 charity basketball tournament will return to Ironton on May 20-21 for its second year. One of the things that sets the tourney apart is that a wide range of ages are invited, and some of those on the lower end of the spectrum are already honing their skills.

Fairland Middle School student Ryan Stewart, 12, is an old veteran at the tournament, hosted locally by community group The Friends of Ironton. He has competed in two tournaments in Chillicothe (his team took second place in one), as well as in last year’s Ironton event.

Stewart said he’s been in heavy training for this year’s tournament, focusing on his ball-handling skills and shooting.

“I’m going to be practicing a lot, like four hours a day,” Ryan said. “I don’t get tired, I don’t know, I just like basketball.”

Michael Lawless is an Ironton Junior High student who threw together a team from some classmates. He said he’s already begun strategizing for the May competition with his teammates.

“We get our team together and practice, we make up plays to run during the game,” Michael said.

In Michael’s opinion, his team will need all the help they can get.

“I think there’s going to be more competition, because more people know about it.

Thirteen-year-old Tommy Waginger, a b-baller since the age of three, was drawn back to the competition, he said, after a great experience at the 2005 event.

“I thought it was really nice, it was fun to do, a lot of fun,” Tommy said. “It was set up nice.”

In 2005, Waginger’s team lost the first two games, but came back to win the rest, good for third place in his division. Although his team worked hard for their success, he admits that they did have some big guns.

“We had a big guy, Robby Webb, he’s about six-foot-two and he’s 13,” said Waginger. When asked if he was a secret weapon, Tommy replied with a laugh “Well … it helped.”

More than 700 players representing 170 teams from across the east ccoast took the courts last year in downtown Ironton.

Registration for the tournament is available at www.macker.com, or by calling Friends of Ironton volunteer Joyce Lynd at (740) 533-4341. The fee for four-man (or woman) teams to register is $108.

High school players are encouraged to check with their local athletic director to ensure compliance with state rules on tournaments.