In the state of hockey, youth athletes may gravitate to the sport at an early age. But, a big crowd of youth basketball players still remains.

The Winter City Showdown tipped off its seventh year of competition this past weekend, with teams from 4th grade to 8th grade testing their skills against different teams in the area.

It’s not all that often youth basketball tournament pop up in the state of hockey though, but thanks to Indiana native Chad Clore, that’s changed.

“I like it when they call this a state of hockey, right? Because I’m from the state of basketball. So that was kind of my love here too. When I started this was I kind of wanted to bring that passion for basketball to the East program because it’s such a big deal,” said Clore, the tournament director.

The two day tournament at Duluth East High School guaranteed each team three games throughout the weekend. That’s just one of the ways that the tournament spreads equality – because at the end of the day – the sport remains the same through each level.

“Basketball is just important to a fourth grade kid as it is a 12th grade kid,” said Clore. “They don’t always get the same special treatment that the 12th grader gets, but you can’t go tell a fourth grader his game means less to him than it does to the 12th grader.”

So while scores went final and teams interchanged on the three courts all day long, the most important part of the day was the memories made, and the fun that was had.

“It’s not really about winning or losing, I just really like having fun.”

“I like it when our team works hard and doesn’t just give up.”

“It’s cool. I like getting to see all the younger kids play. That’s pretty cool. You can see the kids from the other sports you play in this sport too,” all shared members of the Duluth East 6th grade basketball team.

“Seeing players with smiles on their faces, celebrating a good pass or getting after that loose ball or making a shot and celebrating, it’s just the best,” said Joe Schingen, the Duluth East basketball coordinator. “Having that really good energy with kids is hard to beat.”