Last Chance: Buy Harlem Wizards vs. Lacey Shooting Stars Tix in Advance

The Harlem Wizards basketball team is coming to town.

The team, which is known to entertain the crowd with basketball tricks and alley oops, will be competing against a variety of Lacey school district staff and teachers on Tuesday, March 20 at the .

“It’s a fun, family night where they can come out and see the whole community together and have fun for a good cause,” said Donna McAvoy, president of the Parent Teacher Student Association, which is hosting the event.

The Lacey Shooting Stars, the school district’s team, will be comprised of local teachers, administrators, Board of Education members and policemen.

“We choose popular teachers from each school,” she said. “The teachers volunteer to do it to help support Project Graduation.”

While Lacey’s team will have approximately 30 players, the Wizards are coming with eight. The district staff will rotate in. Tricks will be performed throughout the first, second and fourth quarters.

“At the Wizards game, fans see amazing basketball talent combined with hilarious comedy,” McAvoy said. “The athleticism, tricks, fancy teamwork and ball-handling wizardry, plus wild dunks not even seen in NBA games, engages and wows the most avid hoops fans. The comedy is for everybody.”

The third quarter will be competitive with the best school district players on the court, she said.

Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower will also be playing, McAvoy said.

“That’s good for the district,” she said. “We’re hoping other people, who don’t have kids in the schools, will come out too. We just need people to come.”

All proceeds will benefit Project Graduation, a cruise for the graduating class designed to keep the seniors off the roads in a drug and alcohol free environment.

“It’s a huge expense and the Municipal Alliance helps fund it and we fundraise and go through the community to get donations,” she said.

McAvoy’s goal is to get 1,000 residents to the event, she said. But currently, she does not know what to expect.

“This is the first time the PTSA is doing an event like this,” she said. “We wanted to try something different that include families and the community to support us and Project Graduation. We have the support of the high school. They’ve been very good.”

On March 9, one of the Wizards will be visiting Lacey schools for a promo visit.

“He’s coming to each school for an assembly to drum up the kids and get them excited,” McAvoy said. “He will do tricks with the kids and the basketball.”

The game begins at 6:30 p.m. on March 20. The event will feature a halftime show by the Wizards, drinks, snacks, ice cream sundaes and a 50/50 raffle.

“The halftime show with kids on the court, plus the postgame interaction with the Wizards who stay until every autograph is signed, is the cherry on top,” McAvoy said.

Admission is $10 for students and $12 for adults. Tickets can be purchased in advance any day at the high school main office or the township recreation office. They can also be purchased at the door for $2 more per ticket.

“This will be an amazing night of fun, excitement and community togetherness.  We are hoping that many people come out and support our fundraiser,” she said.

The following will be participating from the Lacey Township School District:

Dr. Sandra Brower (Superintendent)
Maureen Tirella (Board of Education)
Frank Palino (Board of Education)
Jackie Ranuska (Principal of the Cedar Creek)
Greg Carter (Cedar Creek)
Lauren Wasilewski (Cedar Creek)
Alicia Serrao (Cedar Creek)
Nancy Coleman (Mill Pond)
Lisa Swenson (Mill Pond)
Rhiannon Mindes (Mill Pond)
Dave Leonard (Lanoka Harbor Elementary)
Erin Mahar (Lanoka Harbor Elementary)
Lisa Mooney (Lanoka Harbor Elementary)
Elyse Winkle (Lanoka Harbor Elementary)
Tiffany Fisher (Forked River Elementary)
Carolyn McKittrick  (Forked River Elementary)
Scott Boedigheimer (Forked River Elementary)
Brian Fisher (Middle School)
Chris Jovanowski (Middle School)
Jason England (High School)
Aaron Fritz (High School)
John Setaro (High School)
Kevin Donohue (High School)
Patty Cooke and Rich Larice, coaches of the high school girl’s basketball team, will be coaching.
Terry Stewart will be the referee and Bunny McGauley will be the "Lacey Lion.”