WASHINGTON,D.C. (WUSA) - A couple of government workers have been using basketball as a means to keep scores of District youths on the court and out of trouble.

Our Bruce Johnson reports the founders of Metro-Ball could use a lot more support from the D.C. government.

Kevin Jones works for the airport authority and Terrance Judge for the FCC. Together in their spare time they run the Metro-Ball league and tournament, and they will tell you that's their most important work:

This weekend the Metro ball tournament will attract about 500 players to the courts at First and N along with their parents, siblings and friends.

The city helps the program with a $12,000 grant from the Youth Investment Trust fund, but that's a big cut from the $50,000 Metro-Ball got last year, before Ward Five councilman Harry Thomas was caught stealing money from the Youth Investment Trust.

Jones and Judge say the D.C. recreation, police and other departments could step up with more youth services in kind to surround this weekend's tournament::

Mayor Vincent Gray was in the neighborhood today to dedicate a remodeled park. His aides got an earful from locals who said new facilities alone are not enough.

The Metroball tournament will be held all day on Saturday, at First and N Streets NW.