Events

Not an "adventure"... but this charity basketball game came close

Posted: Oct 21, 2010 6:11 PM by Angela Douglas - Q2 News
Updated: Oct 22, 2010 9:20 AM

MILES CITY - For the past 13 years, the Harlem Ambassadors, have been inspiring kids to "stay in school and stay off drugs."

The Harlem Ambassadors is a co-ed team of show basketball players who are college educated and drug free. They travel around the country promoting positive messages to kids as they put on school assemblies by day and entertainment packed charity games by night.

"We're here as positive role models and we all have a story," says Harlem Ambassadors player, Krystal Jackson. "We all came from somewhere. I think the kids can just relate, through basketball also."

So why Miles City? To raise awareness about an eastern Montana program that needs volunteers.

"Eastern Montana CASA," states the program's executive director, Cherie LeBlanc. "We are court appointed special advocates who go to court for abused and neglected children. We are their voice in court."

CASA depends on fundraising, grant writing, and volunteers to keep the program going.

"We are currently serving 101 children as of now and there are 60 children that we cannot represent because we don't have enough volunteers," LeBlanc points out.

To help raise awareness for the cause, I volunteered to take on the Harlem Ambassadors on the "CASA All-Stars" basketball team.

"Go CASA! Go All Stars!" We cheer as we gear up for the game.

Once the whistle is blown it takes only about three seconds for me to realize I was in over my head as I watched the Ambassadors dunk the ball over and over again.

But the "All-Stars" played hard and put our best foot forward the entire game. To be completely honest, I don't think I stopped smiling the entire night... even when I "took one for the team."

As I was trying to block one of the Ambassadors (who happened to be a foot shorter than me, but had very impressive ball handling skills), her head collided with my nose. I heard a crack. My eyes watered. No blood. "That's a good sign," I thought to myself. However, when I walked off the court, Q2 photographer Jesse Kester was quick to inform me that he thought I broke my nose. I had my doubts, but he's had several broken nose experiences so I considered the thought. Long story short: The doctor says it's probably just a bad bruise. Fingers crossed.

Ok, back to game. Overall, it was an evening of top notch entertainment at the Custer County District High School.

The best part? It was all for a good cause.

If you missed the Harlem Ambassadors in Miles City, they'll be in Billings on Friday night playing the Safe Kids Yellowstone County Dream Team at West High School at 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 for students and seniors and $11 for Adults at the door. Proceeds will benefit Safe Kids Yellowstone County for unintentional childhood injury prevention education programs.

For more information on CASA, visit their website at www.casa.org.