The rains came, but the basketball players stayed.

Everything was completed on schedule and, by all reports, the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Jam was again a success.

Hundreds of players, spectators and volunteers packed the west parking lot of Albert Lea’s Northbridge Mall for the eighth annual weekend event that concluded Sunday.

&uot;Except for the rain, I think it ran very efficiently this year,&uot; said Dennis Dieser, chairman of the local event. &uot;I think we had everything covered real well, so it ran smoothly. The rain was the only snag. I was happy with it.&uot;

The rain forced some Sunday games to be shortened, according to Gus Macker Event Manager Dan Stafford, who praised the efforts of local organizers.

&uot;They have good volunteers, good sponsorship, a great local commitment,&uot; said Stafford. &uot;It’s one of the nicest little Mackers I’ve been to.&uot;

Brett Knoop, the Head Gus Buster, agreed.

&uot;I like it,&uot; said Knoop. &uot;It’s a good tournament. It’s a smaller one, which I think is nice, a home town atmosphere. The locals do a great job here.&uot;

A total of 247 teams participated, down from last year’s 290 but still about average for a Macker, according to Knoop.

Here are the top finishers in this year’s Gus Macker, by division:

Top Men’s: 1. Don’t Take It Personal, St. Paul (Phil Hooten, Mike Cornelius, Brian Pierson, Brian Johnson); 2. Spam, Rapid City, S.D. (John VanBeek, Ryan Messick, Ryan Peterson, Mitch Slusarski); Sportsmanship: Spam.

Top Women’s: 1. The Ballers, Albert Lea (Amber Sickels, Darcy Olsen, Christi Crews, Aubree Page); 2. All-Stars, Owatonna (Melissa McKernon, Beth Peterson, Sarah Draayer); 3. Alliance, Albert Lea (Ashley Rankin, Jess Hanson, Danielle Rankin, Julie Rankin); Toilet Bowl: Flying Ducks, Alden (Stefanie Ausen, Patty Boettcher, Megan Peterson, Nicole Krueger); Sportsmanship: Flying Ducks.

Court A, Boys: 1. ADDC Tigers, Albert Lea (Davis Thompson, Chad Maier, Aaron Klatt, Daniel Edwards); 2. Scream Team, Glenville (Peter Hansen, Spencer Tran, Ryan Dempewolf, Landon Hall); 3. Holy Cross Angels; Toilet Bowl: G-E Gamers, Emmons/Glenville (Jacob Wuerflein, Andrew Lau, Dakota Nelson, Jaimyan Feldmann-DaVeiga). Sportsmanship: Scream Team.

Court B, 11-12 boys: 1. The Boneheads, Fredericksburg, Iowa (Daniel Zmoos, Gage Mohs, Austin Niewoehner, Alex Sternat); 2. Cannon Falls (Isaac Peterson, Brock Johnson, Christopher Trelstad);

3. M Six B, Albert Lea (Colton Zuniga, Ben Robinson, Derreck Friday, Timothy Kalis); Toilet Bowl:Rucker Superstars, Albert Lea (Brendon Moise, Damian Montes, Alex Talamantes, Nathan Talamantes); Sportsmanship: Reds, Albert Lea (Cory Doyle, Jon Elizondo, Broxton Lynch, Tommy Zuniga).

Court C, 11-12 Boys: 1. MLK Hoopers, St. Paul (Oliver Dority, Jordan Larson, Marcus Binns, Dylan Hale); 2.D’Boys of Crimson, Maple Grove (Dan Broman, Josh Pedretti, Nick Nazarian, Cory Johnsrud); 3. Austin Answers, Austin (Andy Burton, Jordan Anderson, Bobbe Dulitz, Jeff Mentz); Toilet Bowl: Panthers, New Richland (Tyler Firme, Brett Hagen, Seth Hansen, Spencer Busho); Sportsmanship: Team Harmon, Albert Lea (Grant Harmon, Taylor Draayer, Teddy Hartman, Andy Schrad).

Court D, Girls: 1. Slam Dunkers, Burnsville (Katie Barta, Cassie Rochel, Jennie Kalfbell, Molly Huggins); 2. Love & Basketball, Champlin/Brooklyn Park (Allie Wilson, Alana Eason, Laura Bruce, Jazmine Darden); 3. Awesome All-Stars, Alden (Krista Mathiason, Megan Miller, Haley Johnson, Jessie Bolinger); Toilet Bowl: Pink Panthers, Geneva (Kelsey Christensen, Jenna Brekke, Brandi Thorstenson, Lacy Krill); Sportsmanship: Jaks, Albert Lea (Alissa Goete, Stephanie Sipple, Jessica Malepsy, Katie Schou).

Court E, Girls: 1. Starz, Albert Lea/Austin (Hali Hendrickson, Anna Hebrink, Leah Walters, Amanda Arends); 2. Triple Threat, Fort Dodge, Iowa (Ashley Vratny, Baleigh O’Brien, Alyssa Myers, Kenzie Lennon); 3. Spartans, Rochester (Jade Guhl, Allyson, Oeltjen, Mackenzie Flaherty, Hannah Mesick); Toilet Bowl: Mustangs, Granada, (Lisa Balcom, Sara Petrowiak, Ashley Walterman; Sportsmanship: Baam, Albert Lea (Becca Newger, Angie Volkert, Amy Thorson, Mary Beth Grove).

Court F, 13-15 Boys: 1. Geneva Auto All-Stars, NRHEG (Blake Kerkhoff, Brad Kruckeberg, Andrew Harrington, Dakota Tracy); 2. Bulldogs, Wells (Jacob Elmer, Jacob Stenzel, Tom Eilertson, Alex Pederson); 3. The Ballers, Austin (Sandro Krso, Ben May, James Masfield, Lamont Powell); Toilet Bowl: Renegades, Pine Island (Dan Driscoll, Elliott Gramm, Nick Walters, Tyler Granseth).

Court G, 13-14 Boys: 1. Hoop Stars, St. Paul (Torres Tillman, Broderick Binns, Brandon Steele, Jarrad Bell); 2. Macker Attackers, Albert Lea (A.J. Kortz, Zach Herman, Evan Hegwood, Corey Dieser); 3. Raging Mackin Mullets, Apple Valley (Michael Ewen, Seth Jonker, Brad Cullen, Michael Hoppe); Toilet Bowl: Haatvedt’s Hoopsters, Albert Lea (Josh Svendsen, Levi Peterson, Isaac Wiese, Jared Gavle).

Court H, Boys: 1. Burnsville 4, Burnsville (Cameron Koller,

Jesse Skvicalo, Benni Fuller, Matt DeCarolis); 2. Crowd Pleasers, Ellendale (Justin Stieglbauer, Brian Warnke, Nic Barnett, Matt Mangskau); 3. Las Chupacabras, Manson, Iowa (Trevor Dobson, Casey Reeder, Blake Christinson, Daniel Sweet); Toilet Bowl: Leapen Leprechauns, Albert Lea (Jordan Nolander, Joshua Vu, Jake Villarreal, Corey Berggren); Sportsmanship: TC Ballers, St. Paul (Dan McDonough, John O’Neil, Raul Calkins).

Court I, Boys: 1. Da Roc, St. Paul (Julian Phipps, Alex McCoy, Chris Clay, Philip J. Wills); 2. The Jose Limas, Albert Lea (Ryan Truesdell, Greg Schulz, Preston Dahl, Brock Sorenson); 3. Esport Legends, St. Paul (Judd O’Connor, Kevin Peick, Rafael Eubanks); Toilet Bowl: Tylodoma, Albert Lea (Tyler Hoenisch, Donald Graves, Logan Schallock, Matt Bennett); Sportsmanship: Sparks, Byron (John Scrabeck, Cameron Baker, Brandon Lubahn, Jason Hemmingson).

Court J, 15-16 Girls: 1. Panthers, Lakeville (Andi Prescott, Mel O’Brien, Kelly Hilt, Jacci Mattern); 2. Heat, Albert Lea (Liz Thompson, Katherine Ladwig, Cara Thorn, Niki Hendrickson); 3. Dream Team, Granada (Lori Balcom, Abby Schoen, Katy Uttech, Jessica Petrowiak); Toilet Bowl: Big Dawgs, Albert Lea (Annie Berger, Kaylee Hable, Emily Appel, Tess Hinnenkamp); Sportsmanship: Dream Team.

Court K, 17-18 Girls: 1. TMNT, Fargo, N.D. (Amy Hannaher, Ashley Schroeder, Sarah Kraft, Katie Thinglestad); 2. Morris Furniture, Albert Lea (Ashley Helgerson, Lynsey Jorgenson, Tiffany Bratten, Nikki Rafdal); 3. Hy-Vee, Albert Lea (Nicole Merfield, Heather Westrum, Amber Brackey, Jana Ashling); Toilet Bowl: Lady Jays, LeMars, Iowa (Missy Janning, BreAnne Sitzmann, Megan Ruhland, Tricia Manfield); Sportsmanship: TMNT.

Court L, 17-18 Boys: 1. LeMars, LeMars, Iowa (Dustin Sitzmann, Neil Rohe, Brandon Homan, Kevin Kessinich); 2. Team Retro, St. Paul (Darryl Carter, Juveu Johnson, Curtis Stalling, Antonio Richardson); 3. The Ballers, Burnsville (Derek DeCarolis, Josh Tuttle); Toilet Bowl: Dream Team, Albert Lea (Tyler Hegwood, Adam Elseth, Ross Stadheim, Jon Breuer).

Court M, Men’s: 1. James Brothers, Waseca (Brian Pittman, Karl Boese, Nick James, Jeff Blue); 2. Team Embry, Minnetonka (Cedric Smith, Harold Embry, Danny Schumpert, Ricky Suggs); 3. State Farm, Albert Lea (Lani Stewart, Eddie Cassidy, Jeff Pierce, Mike Davis; Toilet Bowl, Ol’ Skool, St. Paul (Daniel Willis).

Court N, Men’s: 1. That Team Can’t Beat You, St. Paul (Jose Ruiz, Rick Ruiz, Tim Feirst, John Medellin); 2. We Next, St. Paul (Shawn Phillips, Chris Wilson, Adrisa Cogshell, Michael Jett); 3. Sota Boyz, St. Paul (Deroy Steele, Tramon VanLeer, Paolo Ligredale, Dan Tabalba); Toilet Bowl, Green Water Monkeys, Albert Lea (Andrew Brown, Chris Brown, Caleb Kleinschrodt, Jermaine Hardy); Sportsmanship: That Team Can’t Beat You.

Court O, Men’s: 1. The Squad, St. Paul (Joe Gaetke, Derick Delpino, Ed Gilday, Rob Werner); 2. Straight Clownin, St. Paul (John Bramer, Anthony Harris, Josh Riley, Landon Hampton); Toilet Bowl: Kimmy Gibblers, Emmons (Seth Stadheim, Robert Goettel, Nick Bremer, Adam Bremer).

Court P, 19-30 Men’s: 1. Jacks, Brookings, S.D. (Mike Blackbourn, Clark Lichty, Jeffery Hesse, Brian Janecek); 2. The Penetrators, Albert Lea (Mike Dougherty, Okez Obi, Ryan Foltz, Ben Town); 3. Trailblazers, Hibbing (Ryan Winter, Robert Jackson, Dan Christy, Roscoe Taylor); Sportsmanship: Brian’s Elder Care, Glenville (Dan Fredrickson, Andrew Greibrok, Josh Delger, Mike Diemer).

Court Q, 19-25 Men’s: 1. Puppies & Kitties, St. Paul (Bobby Green, Tony Bell, Catlin Fierst, Katrina Lee); 2. Fearsome Foursome, Preston (Guy Soland, Kelly Corraughey, Trevor Olson, Josh Rasmussen); 3. Mookie Blaylock, Albert Lea (Mark Habben); Sportsmanship: And One, Albert Lea (Josh Kasper, Kyle Schrad, Corey Bowman); Players, Albert Lea (Chase Coleman).

Court R, Men’s: 1. Could Be Gravy (Rob Mahto, Evan Davis, Norm Meyer, Greg Holm); 2. Basket Ballerz, St. Paul (James Holden, Robert Claypool, Nick Jackson, Jovon Preston); 3. Chronic Fury, Albert Lea (Adam Murray, Ian Goriesky, Kevin Blair, D. Tillman); Toilet Bowl: Goo Crew, Spirit Lake, Iowa (Brad Hickman, Randy Hoksbergen, Brent Thompson); Players, Albert Lea (Chase Coleman).

Court S, Men’s: 1. It Doesn’t Matter, Champlin (Derreck Moody, Chris Plunkett, Demond Plunkett, Ricky Plunkett); 2. Don Juans, Rochester (Jeff Smith, Shane Littlefield, Greg Prebarke, Will Ruffin); 3. We Got Next, Minneapolis (Don Thompson, Damien Troupe, Wayne Johnson, Trey Taylor); Sportsmanship: Gen XYZ, Albert Lea (Brandon Schaecher, Erich Heneke, Bob Pepper, Scott Ramlo); Toilet Bowl: Four Horsemen, Austin (Tim Czarnota, Brian Czarnota, Scott Marinz, Brady Walz).