SHERBURNE – It only took a phone call to R.E.M.’s band manager Burtis Downs for the manager of a young Gus Macker team to receive the alternative rock band’s sponsorship.

“Burtis Downs is a big basketball player. He was happy to do it,” said David Levitt, father of Ian, who, along with his three, fourth-grade teammates, hope to mimic R.E.M.’s 1986 film sound track, “Superman” at the tournament in Norwich this weekend – and take it all.