“KINGSTON – Joe Schiel’s ready. Schiel, the director of North Kitsap Parks and Recreation, has 88 trophies, one for each division and contest winner in the Kingston Hip Hop Hoop Shoot, which will take place Saturday, Jan. 6 starting at 10 a.m. at Kingston Junior High. It’s pretty intense, Schiel said, adding that more than 200 kids are expected for the competition, which has been held in Kingston for more than a decade. It’s a pretty big event. We get kids from Bremerton, Central Kitsap, Port Townsend, Port Hadlock … The competition is for kids from grades three up to twelve, with a division for each grade and gender. Some age groups may be combined, Schiel said, to give kids more competition. Although there will be different events, such as a hot spot and bump shooting competitions, the meat of the competition is the 3 on 3 contest. It is double elimination, Schiel said, with volunteer referees. It should be a real good kick, Schiel said. Kingston’s Sy Wyse, one of the founders of the event, helped start it to give local junior-high age kids something to do. About 300 kids showed up that first year, about 11 years ago, when the competition was held at the Kingston Marina. While the event has been an overwhelming success over the years, Wyse said, the first years were not without some bumps in the road, like when the T-shirts given to every competitor came back from the shop in the color pink. That caused quite a stir, said Wyse. The event has moved locations several times, and this year will be held at the junior high. The whole junior high is packed. Packed to the gunwales, said Wyse. I hope it keeps going that well. The kids look forward to it. What: Kingston Hip Hop Hoop Shoot Where: Kingston Junior High When: Registration will be held from 8-10 a.m. the day of the event (Jan. 6), and the free-throw, bump and hot spot contests will start at 10. Games begin at noon. How much: $10 per person How many: Four players are allowed on each team. Competition is 3-on-3. No coaches allowed – just players. “