Basketballs slammed against the floor as shouts and laughter and even some cat-calls filled the Muskogee Civic Center.

The Muskogee Hoopsters were hard at practice getting ready to play and perform with the Harlem Ambassadors at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The Harlem Ambassadors are coming to Muskogee — and the public is invited to watch the game for free.

City and VA employees make up the Hoopsters, who formed the team to give the Ambassadors someone to play the first time the Muskogee Community Anti-Drug Network brought the team to perform at the Muskogee Civic Center in 2010.

The Ambassadors provide some positive encouragement during their show on staying away from drugs and staying in school, said Hoopsters team member Denise Hickman.

The Hoopsters do the show because they also want to be good role models to Muskogee children, said another Hoopster, John Lee.

“We can do this for the kids. It’s all about the kids,” Lee said. “The Ambassadors will be a positive influence on the kids that come on Monday and we can raise money for a local charity at the same time.”

The Harlem Ambassadors travel around playing basketball as a fundraiser for schools and cities across the nation.

A Harlem Ambassadors’ show combines high-flying slam dunks and comedy during the professional show basketball game, according to www.harlemambassadors.com.

They travel across the country and have even performed in 19 foreign countries, partnering with non-profit organizations to provide community fundraisers.

“The show is designed to be fun for customers of all ages, with youngsters being awed for the first time and older folks enjoying the tried-and-true gags like a rerun of a favorite comedy movie,” the website states.

The charity hasn’t been chosen yet — that will happen during half-time of the game being played at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Muskogee Civic Center, Lee said.

Each Hoopster will place the name of his or her favorite charity in a hat and the name will be drawn at half-time, Lee said.

Donations will be accepted for charity, but attendance is free for Muskogee students and the general public. All are welcome.

The Hoopsters warmed up a bit Thursday evening, preparing for their upcoming challenge against the Ambassadors.

There was a lot of good-natured teasing going on during warm up — who can do the best lay-up, who can shoot the most free throws.

Many of the Hoopsters played ball together in the past, Lee said. They got together to form the team for the first Harlem Ambassadors game in 2010 and they’ve stayed together.

“We’d like to go to other towns and do some fundraising games ourselves,” Lee said.



Reach Wendy Burton at (918) 684-2926 or wburton@muskogeephoenix.com.