SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Hoophall Classic began on Thursday at Springfield College. Retired Springfield Police K9 to receive national recognition for service The basketball was tipped and the Hoophall weekend has begun. Over the course of the five day weekend of events, 33 games will be played in Springfield by teams from across the country. There are teams from California, Florida, Indiana, and Arizona among others, but there are also a number of local teams here in New England. For many, this is their first time playing in the birthplace of basketball. "It means a lot for our program, so this is our first time coming here so it's great. It's a bunch of girls coming together to play the sport that we all enjoy so I think it is a great opportunity for everybody here," said Sania Howard from Holy Cross High School. The games will continue throughout the weekend for the Hoophall Classic, Hoophall invitational, Jr Hoophall Classic and the Hoophall Prep Showcase. For the Classic alone, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is anticipating 11,000 attendees, and tickets are selling quickly. A number of the games on throughout the weekend will also be televised so there is another chance to catch some of the top ranked high school players in the country. Local News Headlines Breakdown of the State of the Commonwealth address Basketball Hall of Fame Hoophall Classic begins at Springfield College Retired Springfield Police K9 to receive national recognition for service Bring your own bucket to the movies on National Popcorn Day WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.