Shenandoah’s M-A-Y Mentoring Program, and the Shenandoah Rotary Club are bringing Flight Squad Basketball to the community for a special game Friday at 7 p.m. at the Shenandoah High Gym. M-A-Y Mentoring Coordinator Kim Leininger says Flight Squad Basketball mixes high-caliber basketball with entertainment, and words of inspiration.
“Flight Squad Basketball is an exhibition premier basketball team,” said Leininger. “They’re very high talented, very professional players. But, they make their skills into family entertainment. So, it’s a fun game with high-level skilled basketball, but a lot of fun, joking entertainment. And, they throw in some really good positive messages along the way. So, we’re super-excited about this event.”
Leininger says Flight Squad is an offshoot of the Harlem Ambassadors team that previously visited the community. “Five years ago, we did this with the Harlem Ambassadors,” she said. “The owners of Flight are the same owners who had the Harlem Ambassadors. It’s a different name of the organization. But, it’s the exact same thing as we had five years ago.”
Flight Squad’s opponents on Friday–a team known as Rotary Mayhem, featuring some familiar faces.
“We do have a lot of great local players,” said Leininger. “We have many of our Shenandoah coaches, some Essex coaches, some community members. They’re just people that a lot of our community members will recognize. And, they’re willing to be made fun of, all in good fun.”
Added attractions include the Shenandoah High School Jazz Choir singing the National Anthem, and the Valley Dance Company with halftime entertainment. Concessions and team merchandise sales open at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for students. Children ages four and under are admitted free. Admission at the door is $10 for adults, $5 for students.
Tickets are available at Shenandoah Middle School, the M-A-Y Mentoring Office, Bank Iowa, Century Bank, Doug Meyer Chevrolet, the Valley News, Howard Clothing and Sporting Goods, McNeilly Garage Service, Millennium Chiropractic, Nishna Valley Cafe, Orton Realty, or any M-A-Y Advisory Board member or Shenandoah Rotarian. Sponsors include the Greater Shenandoah Foundation, the Kay Anderson Foundation, the Charles Hockenberry Foundation, the Cy Rapp and Carolyn Charitable Trust