With determination and excitement in the air, two teams emerged onto center court at the Bryce Jordan Center yesterday afternoon.

As the teams faced each other, the crowd felt the intensity.

Then the music sounded, and the crowd was on its feet, cheering on the players and shouting words of encouragement.

The Lady Lions had already left the court; the basketball referees had retreated from the arena. The game being played on the court was Simon Says, and the players were Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon children, their families, members of the family relations committee and students excited to be involved in the fourth annual Thon Hoops. The event offers Thon kids and their families the chance to hang out on the court of the BJC and participate in various activities during halftime.

The event has grown since its start in 2004, Mary Rowe, family relations overall chairwoman, said. As more families come, they spread the word about the event, she added.

"It's one event to help us make Thon a season as opposed to a weekend," Megan Kendrick, public relations overall chairwoman, said.

Families and students involved in Thon were given the opportunity to test their listening skills as they participated in Simon Says. Prior to the game, families were given a small tour, Rowe said.

"[It was a] good opportunity to show [families] around the Bryce Jordan Center briefly and to show them the behind-the-scenes of the BJC," Kendrick said.

In addition to a tour of the BJC, a few members of the Lady Lions met with Thon families and children, who took pictures with the team members, Rowe said.

McLanahans, 414 E. College Ave., donated $1,000 to the event, with $500 going to the greek organization with the most members in attendance and the other $500 going to the nongreek organization with the most members in attendance.

"[The donation] is a really great way to get people involved, and it's an incentive for groups," Kendrick said. "We're hoping that a lot of organizations will be back from canning [in time to attend the game]."

Children at the event were given good seats at the game and were escorted onto the floor by Penn State students involved in Thon.

"What kid doesn't want to play at the BJC?" Kendrick said. "It's a great way for Penn State students to meet the kids." Among the competitors involved in Simon Says was Phil Barr (sophomore-civil engineering). Barr was the first male contestant knocked out of the game.

"It was rigged," he said, laughing.

Katie Bush, 9, one of the co-champions of the game, said being on center court was fun.

"I see that if you work hard at Simon Says, that's the best [strategy] to win," she said. Katie added that she thinks this year's move to the BJC for the first year in the event's history is "going to be really, really cool."