KINGSTON — Last Saturday, the Little City by the Sea was taken over and run by children at play.

Well, on the hardwoods anyway.

In what has become an annual tradition, the participants of the annual Kingston Hip Hop Hoop Shoot — ranging from third graders to high schoolers — run the games themselves. No interference from parents is allowed and fouls are called by players. This year’s event was no different.

“It’s all kids,” said Joe Schiel of Poulsbo Parks and Recreation, who directs the Hoop Shoot. “We don’t even let the parents coach from the sidelines — the kids do it all. It’s just for them.”

“The kids run it,” said volunteer and parent Justin Peach. “The parents keep their traps shut and this becomes their day.”

The 12th annual Kingston Hip Hop Hoop Shoot also brought in hoopsters from around the Sound — as far as Gig Harbor, Port Townsend and Chimicum — to play in the 3-on-3 basketball event that packed two gymnasiums at Kingston Junior High School.

This year’s 80 teams was the most ever in the competition’s history. Starting at 9:30 a.m. with basketball contests, the event finally finished around 10 p.m.

“When all the volunteers here are done tonight, they’ll be dragging,” Shiel said.

But this year’s event was very well organized, both Peach and Shiel agreed.

“It was very smooth,” said Shiel. “Everything fell into place.”

“(Poulsbo Parks and Recreation) has this event so wired,” Peach said. “They’ve really got this down so people like me who don’t know that much about basketball can come help out.”

At around noon, the 3-on-3 games began for the third graders. Teams were allowed up to five players and each team played until they were beaten twice or had won the championship in their age division.

Shiel said they had to close registration at 80 teams — one day’s worth of basketball at one location could accommodate no more.

“We’re at a limit,” Shiel said, “Unless we go to two days.”