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Team shoots for children in Wizards game
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| By: Ryan D. Wilson |
November 26, 2008 |
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The Lincoln Lightning team isn't in it to win against the Harlem Wizards, they're in it for the kids.
And the Wizards share that sentiment.
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"What really impressed me is they talk about how they love working with kids, that's what really got me excited about this," Lincoln Lightning Coach Cari Pfizenmaier said.
The match up of teachers, community members and a couple athletes will play the Wizards 7 p.m. Dec. 2nd in the Clay Center Community High School gym. Proceeds of the event go towards Lincoln school's new playground.
Teachers make up most of the team's roster from Lincoln, Garfield, Wakefield and Clay Center Community Middle Schools. As well as teachers, the Lincoln Lightning's roster also includes local WNBA star Nicole Ohlde, school resource office Allen Brumfield, Tom Kirschner Jr. from Hutchinson/Mayrath, CCCHS seniors Zach Elzinga and Ethan James, and Mike Spielman from Edward Jones.
"We mostly selected players from Lincoln Elementary so kids could relate, to get kids excited about what's going on," Pfizenmaier said. "They're teachers kids are used to seeing everyday, that's what the Wizards wanted from us, and other people in the community that kids might know."
The teach had one practice yesterday before they face the Wizards next week. To keep up a competitive pace and to allow as many teachers to play as possible, Pfizenmaier split the 23 players into four teams to rotated through out the game.
Second-grade teacher Kim Crimmins joked she only plays offense and isn't allowed to run. Other teachers joked they are afraid they may hurt themselves playing.
Despite joking about how they are out of shape and no match for the Wizards, the teachers don't intend to throw the match.
"We need to play hard," Pfizenmaier told the team Tuesday. "Nowhere in the guidelines does it say that we should let up. We need to actually play and play like we really want to win."
The Harlem Wizards, founded in 1962, features some of the top basketball talent in the world and offers their own brand of "Tricks, Hoops, & Alley-Oops." Theatrics, tricks and alley-oops are part of show and team member improvise to provide a different show each time. Their current winning streak exceeds 3,000 games and miles of smiles.
Pfizenmaier encouraged team members to check out the team's biographies on www.harlemwizards.com, because they all come from "interesting" backgrounds, including some with master's degrees.
Clay Center is fortunate to be one of two stops in Kansas the team has scheduled, the other in Garden City, Pfizenmaier said.
While the team has no specific strategy or tricks up their sleeves, Pfizenmaier said they will give it their best shot. "We'll work hard and do our best and have a good time," she said.
Harlem Wizards are also planning a program for school children in the afternoon before the game. A sloppy Joe Supper starts at the High School at 5. p.m., gym doors open at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are available at Mayo's, United Bank and Trust, or by calling Kelly Holte at 632-5466 or 632-7514.
Holte told Clay County Commissioners Monday that Hutchinson Mayrath, who donated a substantial amount to the program as a sponsor, also bought 66 adult tickets and Clay Counts had bought 43 child tickets
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©Clay Center Dispatch 2010
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