Smithville fans will be ‘hooping’ it up when the Harlem Ambassadors tour hits the courts on Saturday Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Smithville High School Gym. The professional show team will bring slam dunks and smiles when they take on the Smithville DunkSTARS in a family-friendly community fundraiser to benefit the high school scholarship program for the Smithville Noon Lions Club.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to see this level of entertainment,” said Debbie Roberson, Lions chair person. “And the more money we raise, the more money we can provide for scholarships.”

The Ambassadors bring a fast-paced brand of Harlem-style basketball to the court, featuring ball-handling wizardry, leaping slam dunks and laugh out loud comedy routines.

“I was on a team that played the Ambassadors in my hometown. I think one of the players jumped over me,” said Andis Goble, Smithville parks and recreation director. “I didn’t know I was that funny. Seems I was the laughing stock of the night.”

Goble has joined the Smithville DunkSTARS despite the emotional trauma from his first encounter with the Ambassadors.

“It’s for a great cause, the team is ready for a good time,” Goble added.

Brother Michael Murphy, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Smithville is coaching the DunkSTARS for the event.

“Recruiting players has been a lot of fun. When I talked to them about practice some of them laughed,” Murphy said. “But really, there are some dedicated athletes on the team. They play every week.”

Former Lady Tiger standouts Julie Brooks and Megan Rogers have joined the DunkSTARS. The pair was part of an Lady Tigers team that went to the state championships in 2000. Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald laces up the sneakers, too, along with Precinct 2 County Commissioner Clara Beckett.

City Manager Tex Middlebrook suits up for the DunkSTARS, along with SISD director of maintenance and transportation Zack Harris and SISD board member Alan Hemphill. DAEP principal David Edwards, firefighter Clint Brooks and SHS grad Jonathan McNutt will also hit the court for the Stars. SHS coach Cyril Adkins brings speed to the basket for the team and the athletic Anna Murray, elementary school principal, will add depth.

The DunkSTARS plan a few tricks of their own and the team is excited about the good-natured fun in store for everyone.

“We are really looking forward to the game, folks are going to be entertained,” said Troy Streuer, DunkSTARS player and owner of Pocket’s Grille in Smithville. “Its for such a great cause, we can do big things with scholarships.”

Along with the non-stop laughs, the Ambassadors deliver a positive message for kids in every town they visit.

“At our shows we want the kids to know that they’re part of our team too,” Coach Lade Majic said in a press release. “We invite as many kids as we can to come sit on the bench, have a front row seat during the show and get involved in all of the fun stuff we do.”

“The Ambassadors bring a positive message for kids,” Roberson said. “They tell children to stay in school and stay off drugs. Every player on the team has a college degree and they are all drug tested.”

The Harlem Ambassadors School Program will be at the Jr. High School Gym on Feb. 16. Both the elementary and junior high school kids will meet with the team and hear from the players.

Sponsors for the event helped the Noon Lions Club keep ticket prices very affordable. “We have over 20 sponsors that have generously donated time and money to the success of the show,” Roberson said. “Our big three are WCU Services in Bastrop, The Lost Pines Cancer Center and Pocket’s Grille in Smithville.”

“We wanted to pay for the program in advance so we could keep the price low,” Roberson said. “That’s where our sponsors really helped.”

The Noon Lions Club provided eight students with $1000 scholarships last year.

“This is a big fundraiser for us,” Roberson said. “So many people have helped and our Harlem Ambassadors Committee members are to be commended for their hard work in making the program possible.”

Tickets are on sale at the Smithville Chamber of Commerce, First National Bank in Smithville, Prosperity Bank and the Smithville High School Front Office. Advance tickets are $5 for students or seniors over 65 and $7 for adults. Tickets at the door are $7 for students and seniors and $9 for adults. Kids under two will be admitted free.

Special center court reserved tickets are $25 each and will be sold at the chamber office only.

You can also make it a family night with a pre-game pizza dinner from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at the Smithville High School cafeteria. Pizza tickets are $5 per person for two large slices of pizza and a drink. Advance purchase required for pizza tickets.

For information, contact any Noon Lions Club member or Debbie Roberson at 496-7724.