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Harlem Ambassadors battle
Cloudcroft Growling Hoopsters
By Arlan Ponder
Basketball season in Cloudcroft
ended weeks ago, however, on Tuesday night a professional
group of players turned out before a packed house at the
Cloudcroft High School gym to battle some former Bear
players, school officials and local residents.
The Harlem Ambassadors
Professional Show Basketball Team brought their "It’s
Not Your Grandfather’s Basketball Show" of
high-flying slam dunks, comedy, music and interactive family
entertainment to Cloudcroft.
"We were so excited to
bring this group to Cloudcroft," said Charliss Randall,
event coordinator and Cloudcroft Kiwanis secretary. "The
Harlem Ambassadors are not only talented basketball players,
but great role models because they are drug free and college
graduates. We appreciate everyone who came out and took part
in this event. The turnout was overwhelming."
The game started as most
basketball games do – an introduction of the players,
the national anthem and a tip-off, but from there everything
went downhill for the Cloudcroft Growling Hoopsters. There
were all kinds of antics from shorts being pulled up and down
to bad officiating and dancing to WWF-style wrestling. At one
point a football game even broke out complete with a Nerf
football, illegal take-downs and excessive celebrations.
When the buzzer sounded the
Ambassadors had outshot the Hoopsters 74-65, despite a
15-point "grant" given at halftime in order to keep
the game from being a complete blowout.
After the game, Harlem
Ambassador player Julia Hargrove, who was the only female on
the team and served as the lead instigator, addressed the
crowd.
"We want to stress to all
our young people and students – stay positive, stay
focused and stay drug free," the 5’5" English
major from Briar Cliff University said before signing
autographs and posing for pictures with students.
Cody Adams served as the coach
for the Growling Hoopsters, which was named by Kimberly
Byers’ fourth grade class at Cloudcroft Elementary
after a "Name The Team" contest. His team consisted
off: Nolene Adams, Joey Rogers, Kara Goss, Tim Scott, Tony
Hall, Tony Courvoiser, Amanda Gutierrez, Seth Lee, Mario
Romero, Noel Romero, Lesley Brenner, Don Pethick, Robert
Adams, Brenda Stovall, Bill Lee Park, Wendyl Lane and Bruce
Odom.
"We especially want to
thank the Cloudcroft Light Opera Company, The Lodge, Otero
County Co-op and Patty and Gilbert Troell for their
especially generous donations," Ms. Randall said.
Sponsors for the event were:
CLOC, The Lodge, Patty and Gilbert Troell, Otero County
Co-op, Back in Action Therapy, Mountain Monthly, Copper
Butterfly, First National Bank, Cloudcroft Gallery, Gary
Mack, Otero Federal Credit Union, Desert Sun, Western Bank,
Mountain Top Mercantile, Bird House, Bob Doughty, Big
Daddy’s, Green Mountain, Tom and Nosi Crosby, Michael
and Patricia Mishkin, Summit Inn and other anonymous
supporters.
Several hours prior to the
performance the Harlem Ambassadors held an assembly with the
students of the Cloudcroft Elementary and Middle schools
where they promoted principals all the Ambassadors believe in
strongly – stay in school, stay off drugs and listening
to your parents.
The Harlem Ambassadors tour
schedule over the years has included events in 49 states and
19 countries, including over 300 military shows for all
branches of the service at over 120 different bases
worldwide.
Proceeds from the event will be
used for the Cloudcroft Kiwanis Club scholarships and other
worthy Kiwanis causes. The Cloudcroft Kiwanis Club meets
every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Big Daddy’s restaurant on
U.S. 82. Visitors and prospective members are welcome to
attend. For more information, call Charliss Randall at
430-3899, Patricia Mishkin at 682-5081 or Sally Blanscett at
430-5556.
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