YAKIMA -- Three weeks ago, with sluggish signups, Hotshot organizers were a little nervous that the still-sagging economy would have an impact on this year's event.

They didn't need to worry, as this 3-on-3 basketball tournament has established a solid following, and as this weekend drew closer, more entries began to roll in, eventually swelling the field to a record 319 teams, a 26-team increase from last year.

The steady uptick in entries (the field has grown in three of the past four years) has a pretty simple explanation -- and it doesn't matter if you live just a couple of miles from downtown Yakima or if you've arrived from one of the more remote spots on the westside.

"It's a family atmosphere," said Ben Webb, the eldest of three brothers from Sequim, who chose this event to debut as a 3-on-3 team.

"Win, lose or draw, it doesn't matter. It's a family event," said Craig Caudill, a West Valley resident who is playing in one division while son Aaron competes in another.

Similar stories are playing out all along Yakima Avenue, with families and friends sharing courts in an event that has seen an increase of 51 teams since 2006.

"We're starting to grow a reputation," said John Cooper, president and CEO of the Yakima Visitors and Convention Bureau. "It's family entertainment and we go to great pains to keep it clean and well-managed."

Those efforts don't go unnoticed.

"The guy who runs it (Rich Austin) really does a nice job; you can tell he's into making this a quality event," said Darrell Joslyn, a six-year veteran of Spokane's mammoth Hoopfest, who drove five hours from Sequim in an RV with teammates Todd Irwin and Brady Marunde to participate in their first Hotshots.

"It's nice to see it so well-supported," Irwin said. "The city should be proud."

The growing number of out-of-towners show how well the event has gained a foothold throughout the region, according to Austin, but the event's bread and butter remains the local teams and the personal connections for Valley residents such as the Caudills.

"We love it. It's an opportunity for the kids to come out and have fun ... and I'm still playing, too," said Craig Caudill, who is competing on a Men's Open Division team.

Son Aaron has played on a Hotshot team since 2006, with this year's team, the West Valley Sharks, competing in the Boys Sixth Grade Division.

Both had their struggles Saturday, but that didn't bother them.

"That's not what matters," Craig said. "We're having a good time. They (Aaron and his teammates) will start talking about next year's event by (Sunday) afternoon.

"This is good for Yakima."

That attitude extends to out-of-towners.

"You've got the vendors all around the courts, the weather, playing in the streets along all these buildings, it's a cool atmosphere," Ben Webb said right after winning their afternoon game, which mom Kerry videotaped with dad A.J. alongside.

Ben, 21, is a student assistant for Central Washington University's men's basketball team, Ary, 19, will be a freshman for the Olympic College team this coming season, and Corbin, 16, will be a sophomore at Sequim High School.

Ironically, Ary and Corbin played basketball in Yakima previously as their Sequim squad reached the Class 2A state tournament in the SunDome this past March.

This time, when not playing, they'll spend their time with mom and dad in the family RV when not playing.

"We're a hoop family," said A.J. Webb, who also was enjoying the weekend's festivities. "We really like eastern Washington -- the weather, the people."

"It's family first," said Ben Webb, adding that the brothers have enjoyed themselves so much this weekend that they'll try to return on a regular basis. "It's just a lot of fun."