Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
Hoopers in the South Puget Sound region are lacing up their sneakers and heading to Tenino on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, for the seventh annual Capital City 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.
It’s the second consecutive year it will be held in the Stone City.
The annual 3-on-3 tournament will occur from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, though different contests will occur each day at noon. The dunk contest — which was won by Yelm High School graduate and current University of Washington track athlete Trevontay Smith in 2024 — will take place at noon on Saturday. The area’s best shooters will look for bragging rights at noon on Sunday for the 3-point contest.
Teams can still register for the annual 3-on-3 tournament at www.CapitalCity3on3.com.
Robin Johnson, with Capital City 3-on-3, told the Nisqually Valley News she’s a Tenino native and she is thrilled to see the annual basketball tournament coincide with Oregon Trail Days.
“It’s been a fun journey. We’ve been to several different locations, and last year we decided to bring it to my hometown of Tenino,” Johnson said. “This will be its final home, and it will happen during our Oregon Trail Days event that Tenino puts on every year.”
Johnson noted the event will take place at a new location on Park Street on the backside of Parkside Elementary School. She believes the change of scenery will provide better roads for the basketball courts and create a “much better” location for vendors.
“It’ll be closer to all the activities the town is putting on that weekend,” Johnson said. “The location is going to be so much better for our clients and their families, and for the family-type atmosphere we’re looking for. The streets are going to be better to play on.”
New to the Capital City 3-on-3 Tournament in 2025 will be an adult men’s 35-plus division, along with the option for teams to carry a fifth player. Teams must carry between three and five players on their roster. The tournament will be held rain or shine, according to organizers.
“Last year, the tournament went really well. What resonated with me the most is we decided to bring it to my hometown, and the city was wonderful to work with. We put it together last minute, and it went great. We had more teams than we anticipated, and it was a super fun event,” she said. “It’s special to me. I was born and raised in Tenino. My family was actually the original settlers in Tenino. The community has done a lot for me through my childhood, and being raised there is something I don’t take for granted. I grew up going to Oregon Trail Days and all of the activities there. Being able to bring an event that’s so special to me into my hometown, which is also so special to me, has really been an awesome experience.”
Whether you’re attempting your best Shawn Kemp impression in the dunk contest or channeling your inner Stephen Curry during the 3-point shootout — or simply just enjoying Oregon Trail Days weekend — Johnson is thankful to see Tenino serve as a hub for family activity this upcoming weekend.
“The most important thing is this is a fun family atmosphere, where you can come and spend a whole day or whole weekend,” she said. “You can experience Oregon Trail Days and all of the basketball events going on. It’s a good, fun thing to do. The weather should be great too.”
