CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Community advocates held their annual “Midnight Basketball” event Friday night in Champaign.

Around 60 kids between middle and high school from throughout the community came out to play until midnight on July 18. It’s the ninth year for the event, and it caps off the week-long “Campference,” where leaders go into struggling areas and help children.

Community Advocate Willie Comer said the night offers kids a safe place to play the game and form good habits in the community.

“It does two things: One, it allows us to have a space where kids can come be safe. They love to hoop; they love to play basketball. They love the trash talk. This is a safe space where they could do all of that,” Comer said. “And then two, it’s a space where they get to meet and have a relationship with Christ and learn about him. But after that, it’s a space where they get to build relationships with us.”

Although the event was their annual celebration, Comer hosts games at the Leonard Center every Friday throughout the year.