This may be his third year organizing the annual Christiansburg High School-sponsored Backyard Brawl basketball tournament, but Kevin Stoner hasn't lost any enthusiasm for the event.

His goal was to put together an inexpensive camp for high school basketball players to compete against teams they normally wouldn't. With help from the town, Christiansburg High School and volunteers, Stoner hopes to also put together an event that can be enjoyed by all this weekend.

"All we really ask is for people to come out and watch basketball and enjoy themselves," Stoner said.

Stoner's partner in putting together the event, Blue Demons boys' basketball coach Doug Hylton, said he likes the idea of pitting Virginia teams against West Virginia teams, hence the name "Backyard Brawl."

The two came up with the idea when Hylton accompanied Stoner, a West Virginia native, to a game between West Virginia University and Marshall University. The idea clicked for Hylton when he thought about Virginia coaching legend Burrall Paye, who coached at William Fleming High School and ran a summer league that brought out the best talent from the area.

"This is what we are doing with our Backyard Brawl, bringing in quality teams in order for everyone to get better," Hylton said.

Current William Fleming head coach Mickey Hardy said he is looking forward to the challenge that the tournament offers his team.

"We've got some young kids coming up for the trip, so it will help them see what level they need to play and practice at to able to compete," Hardy said.

The Brawl will feature 40 teams -- 20 from Virginia and 20 from West Virginia. When the tournament started in 2006, 14 teams competed. Hylton attributes the growth to word of mouth.

"We try to treat the teams extremely well by keeping the cost of the camp at a low fee and treating them like you would want to be treated," Hylton said.

When teams arrive Friday, they will be treated to a spaghetti dinner at Christiansburg High School, expected to feed about 450 people. The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce also issued a tourism grant to help those from out of town pay for hotel rooms.

Mick Price, basketball coach at Ravenswood High School, north of Charleston, W.Va., said making the trip across the border will be well worth it.

"I think it's great for us because we get to see styles of basketball that we don't normally get to see during the summer. We're really looking forward to coming down," Price said.

Games will be played on four courts at the Christiansburg Recreation Center, in addition to Christiansburg High School, Auburn High School and Auburn Elementary School.

Coaches from every NCAA Division II and Division III college in Virginia and West Virginia have been invited to the event.

Fans and teams who attended last year's Backyard Brawl will be treated to a few new additions. Coaches and players can relax between games in a "hospitality room," where food and drinks are available. Coaches, parents, spectators and players can put in bids for a silent auction. And a 3-point shootout competition is planned when there is time between games.

A total of 101 games will be played in two days. All proceeds will go to the Blue Demons Basketball Boosters, which will help pay for summer camps, team uniforms and any other expenses incurred throughout the season.

"This is a great way for us to raise money for our basketball program, and what better way to raise money than to play ball?" Hylton said.