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  • Harlem Ambassador players Cherie Hughes and Selethia Jackson help local pastor Pat Kilby of the Thundering Lions adjust his uniform in preparation for a free throw during Tuesday night's exhibition game. Randy Mitchell

    Oh Lord!
February 28, 2013

Ambassadors, local all-stars put on show to remember

Jeff Cali Sports Editor adanewssports@cableone.net The Ada News

Ada —  

The Thundering Lions from Pontotoc County put up a valiant effort, but in the end, the undefeated Harlem Ambassadors defeated the local all-stars 85-77 Tuesday night in front of a large crowd at East Central’s Kerr Activity Center.

But the score was only a subplot to the entertaining action on the court.

The Thundering Lions' roster included the following local celebrities:

• John Garber, Boy Scout dude and eye doctor extraordinaire for the Chickasaw Nation, who wore 007 on his back and sexy Superman socks.

• Mary Garber, a former Stratford stud back in the day who works at Valley View Regional Hospital and is married to 007.

• Pat Kilby, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ada.

• John Hargrave, president of ECU and the birthday boy.

• Dusty Raper, assistant football coach and teacher at Ada High.

• Steve Kessinger, associate district judge and Keeli Kessinger’s father.

• Andrea Appleman from Ada Junior High.

• Cliff Johnson, Latta superintendent.

• Taylor Treat, former Miss Ada and Miss Oklahoma.

• Shawna Senkel, Byng coach and former Byng player.

• David Taylor of the Chickasaw Nation.

• Kyle Wilson, Ada Boys and Girls Club guy and former ECU football assistant coach.

• David Fisher, former Allen High School stud.

• Ian Adams, former ECU basketball player.

Some of the more memorable sights and highlights from the game included:

• Pastor Kilby was taught the art of free-throw showing by Harlem 5-3 point guard Cherie Hughes. Hughes showed Kilby how to wear his shorts and the correct dance move before putting up a shot. He may not have a job at the First Baptist Church after the dance moves he performed.

• Mary Garber, the Stratford Flash who owns the distinction of making the first-ever official shot inside the Kerr Activities Center (I believe they had those peach baskets back then), didn’t make a basket in the game, but boy, did she score. On two different occasions, she was caught pulling down the pants of a male Ambassador opponent and once drew a foul for the foul play.

• John Garber and David Fisher may have been the two worst dancing dudes in the entire building.

• The lovely Treat was one of the best dancers, even impressing the Ambassadors with her smooth moves. A close second to Treat in the dance contest was Thundering Lions coach Brian Geist, who left the bench to square off against one of the Ambassadors.

• Referees Terry Hill, Calvin Prince and Zac Hawkins even got in on the dancing action. Thank goodness they are all good referees.

• Keeli Kessinger, a former Latta softball standout who now plays at Seminole State College and is the well-known daughter of Steve Kessinger, may not claim her father again after watching him do it Gangnam Style. It was a bit frightening.

• A WWE wrestling match broke out between the 5-3 Ambassador Cherie Hughes and the 7-0 tall Ian Adams. Hughes got the pinfall to remain the World Wrestling Basketball championship.

• Rondal Ogoke, a 7-footer for the Ambassadors, scored 34 points — on mostly two-handed dunks – to lead his team.

The ECU crowd scored 40 points for the Thundering Lions by making a lot of noise in the third quarter. “Daring” David Taylor scored a dozen points for the Lion,s while Adams had a couple of dunks and scored 11 for the local all-stars.

The Ambassadors did a great job of entertaining the crowd, and the whole event was for a good cause. Proceeds from the contest will go to support the Ada Lions Club's charity work.

———o———

THE NUMBERS

Tuesday’s Game

Lions Club Battle

At East Central University

Harlem Ambassadors 87, Thundering Lions 77

AMBASSADORS 28 22 20 15  —  85

THUNDERING   8   7 52 10  —  77

AMBASSADORS: Ronald Ogoke 34, Deon Hughes II 18, Larry Pikes 14, Cherie Hughes 12, Alexander Wright Jr. 4, Selethia Jackson 3.

THUNDERING LIONS: ECU Crowd 40, David Taylor 11, Ian Adams 10, Pat Kilby 7, Kyle Wilson 5, David Fisher 2, Andrea Appleman 2.

3-point goals: Hughes 2, Pikes 2, Jackson (HA); Kilby 2, Adams, Wilson, Taylor (TL).

Fouled out: You have to be kidding.

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