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  • Is this a basketball game or a dance party? Lade Majic takes a break from the show to bust a move with one of her opponents. Harlem Ambassadors

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March 15, 2013

Harlem Ambassadors to bring family fun to Chickasha

Aaron Colen, Sports Editor, Aaron.Colen@chickashanews.com The Express-Star

CHICKASHA — Donna Standridge and Bud Andrus of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce both got the same email from the Harlem Ambassadors, seeking out potential venues.

Normally, Standridge said she would delete an email like that, but she said this one caught her attention, as it did Andrus' also.

"We just almost simultaneously said 'Hey, this might work,'" Standridge said. "The reason it caught my attention was that it was a family-type community event."

The Harlem Ambassadors basketball show team will play the Chickasha Breeze, a team comprised of various Chickasha citizens, at 7 p.m. April 23 at the Chickasha High School Activity Center.

The Ambassadors are similar to the well-known Harlem Globetrotters, but have a more community-oriented focus and a message aimed at kids in school.

"They come to schools with a special message for the kids to stay in school, stay off drugs, and no bullying," Standridge said. "Plus, each one of the players has a college degree, so we just thought it was a really good, wholesome fun, family-type event for Chickasha, and a way for the Chamber to make non-dues revenue."

Tickets are $11 for adults, $6 for children age 5-17, and admission is free for children under 5 years old.

Revenue from ticket sales will go to the Chamber of Commerce, and also to some non-profit civic groups that helped sell tickets.

The concession stand at the game will be run by the Chickasha High School Athletic Department and, and proceeds from that will go to the school.

The Chickasha Breeze is broken into two separate teams: Team A and Team B.

"Team A is probably the younger, quicker and faster guys that play basketball, and that we hope will be competitive," said Sam Griffin, who was responsible for putting the teams together. "Team B will play the second and fourth quarters, and that's kind of the slapstick comedy and routines, similar to the Globetrotters."

Team A includes Eric Golightly, Jerry Don Bray, Rodney Fergason, Seth DeHart, John DeHart, John Tointigh, Steven Mitchell, Erick Mottinger, Matt Mettry, Eric Harris, Brain Battershell and Will Wheeler.

Team B includes Griffin, Hank Ross, Stewart Fairburn, Ron Sanders, Carl Phelps, Mark Millsap, Matt Mollman, Joe Dorman, Ashley Donald and Greg Elliott.

The Breeze will have several practice sessions at the high school in preparation for the game.

"Mainly just to get out there and not look foolish or anything like that," Griffin said with a laugh. "Team A will be pretty good, because they've been playing quite a bit. Team B, that will be the team that might need to work on who they're going to be playing with and get familiar."

At halftime, a basketball autographed by the Harlem Ambassadors will be raffled off, and there will be a drawing for participants for a half-court shot for a Buick Verano, which will be provided by the Byford dealership.

"We're hoping that lots of families, that everyone will come out," Standridge said. "We're looking to fill the Activity Center at the High School. Hoping everyone will come out, especially families with children."

Tickets are available at the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce, the Chickasha Leader and the Chickasha High School Activity Center. For more information, call 405-224-0787.

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