Harlem Wizards treat Medford to a basketball showcase

Trick hoops and alley-oops were on full display, as the Harlem Wizards conjured some basketball magic, Tuesday night in Medford.

The all-star hoop squad showcased their amazing skills against a team of local teachers and city officials. The Medford Mustang All-City All-Stars were playing for a good cause, with proceeds raised going to Medford’s four elementary schools: the Brooks, McGlynn, Missituk and Roberts.

If you were looking for a Mustang miracle, look elsewhere. The Wizards won the game by a landslide, 83-68. But Medford was the real winner with another highly entertaining fundraiser.

“They made us look silly, but it was a lot of fun,” said Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, who netted two points in the first quarter. “This is always a great event. I don’t think I’ve missed one, and we have such a packed house. It’s great to see the PTO do so well raising so much money. Anything I can ever do to help I’m happy to do it.”

Working the court like a master of ceremonies, hitting shots and dancing with the audience, Wizards veteran Kamil “The Dragon” Brown was in his element. The 6-foot-7 Albany State product was a natural entertainer, dazzling with his dribbling, while constantly cavorting with the capacity crowd.

“Medford was amazing,” said Brown. “The crowd was fantastic. The kids were all enthusiastic. It was a good show overall.”

Brown is no stranger to Medford. He last visited the school for a fundraiser two years ago, building a loyal fan base in the process.

“I saw a lot of kids I took pictures with last time,” said Brown. “They remembered me, so I guess I made a good impact, but it was a good show. The kids were excited.”

Established in 1962, the Harlem Wizards have performed countless fundraisers, displaying their fancy trickery through dribbling, passing, shooting and dunking.

Brown fronted an electric ensemble that included slam dunk dominators like 6-foot-8 Tyler “Sky Rise” Cronk, 6-foot-9 Devale “Too Tall” Johnson, and 6-foot-7 rookie Deven “Just Do It” Dorsett.

The smallest player on the squad, Arnold “A-Train” Bernard, provided a nice comedic touch. Standing in at 5-foot-6, he unleashed a bevy of trick shots, including an underhanded half-court heave. Meanwhile, 6-foot-2 guard Devon “Livewire” Curry charged up the crowd with his pinpoint accuracy from three-point land.

Together the Wizards legends squad has helped raise millions for charitable organizations, schools, and foundations around the world.

“We play about 200 games a year,” said Curry, whose team averages 5-7 games a week. “We play the most games of any professional team in the world. We have fun with the fans. We like to joke around. We bring love and excitement to the community.”

The Wizards were all business against Medford, quickly grabbing a 20-8 lead and never looking back. Cronk put on a slam dunk clinic in the opening quarter. His high-flying act included hurdling over Medford’s Lynn Anderson, Emily Danielson, and Bernard for the dunk, potting a game-high 14-points in the stanza.

Led by co-captains Malory Walsh (Missituk) and Rowan Williams (Roberts), Medford remained determined. Brooks sharpshooter Abby Bruyere got the squad going, followed by a Josh Glionna layup, but the Medford baskets were few and far between.

McGlynn City Year hoopster Caroline Roscoe attempted to rally the troops with a second quarter basket. And when Missituk City Year sniper Teacher Kyle sank Medford’s lone three-pointer of the game, they inched a little closer.

But the Wizards remained a world away. Even when Medford’s mayor tried to set up a pick on Brown, he still managed to dance right past her en route to an easy jam.

“I was trying to steal the ball, but I had no shot,” said Lungo-Koehn. “They’re amazing. They were dunking it left and right. It was awesome.”

Brown killed any thoughts of a Medford comeback with his fancy footwork. Meanwhile, Johnson pounced on a plethora of rebounds, maintaining a sizable gap.

Medford never quit. Missituk Assistant Principal Katie Fiumara buried a late basket in the half but was unable to cash in on a 10-point shot in the closing moments.

“I think I just felt the pressure getting to me,” said Fiumara. “But I’m glad I at least got on the board and scored some points. I can hang my hat on that.”

Feeling charitable, “A-Train” scored the 10-pointer for the opposition just to make things interesting. But nothing, not even a basket from Missituk Principal Nancy Sherman-Hudson, could stem the tide. Medford trailed 37-24 at halftime.

During intermission, the Wizards executed a trade. The deal sent Curry and Dorsett to Medford, in exchange for Bruyere and James Giddings. Curry provided a spark for Medford landing five third quarter treys, pulling the Mustangs within three at 61-58.

But in the end the Wizards had final say as they pulled away with the win.

Rounding out the Medford roster were McGlynn Principal Andy O’Brien, Missituk’s Julia Murphy, Cathy Williams and Medford School Committee member John Intoppa. Despite the team’s struggles, the Mustangs were pleased with the overall effort.

So have the Mustangs improved since the last time the two squad locked horns?

“Definitely not,” said Brown, tongue firmly planted in cheek. “I think they got worse, but they’ve got next year to regroup. If they need any help with recruiting, they can hit me up as well.”

The Mustangs seem more than willing to accept that challenge.

“It was fun to see so many families and kids from all the different schools,” said Fiumara. “I was nervous with how the game was going to go, but it was a blast. I hope we keep doing this and am grateful to be a part of it.”