The bleachers were filled to capacity. This was not a typical Friday night basketball game. The cheerleaders spurred on the crowd. The POB Faculty Hawks were ready, set and able. The entire community was pumped as the Harlem Wizards took to the court to play ball.

Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School student, Harrison Chad, sang a beautiful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. School Board VP Jonathan Mosenson, also masquerading as a cheerleader, produced the evening's colorful programs. Every player from the Superintendent of POB School District, Marty Brooks, to Judi Rosenthal, Stratford Road's third-grade teacher, had a special hand in making the Harlem Wizards versus the POB Faculty a game to remember.

Dr. Ed Metzendorf and Don Gately, principals from both Middle Schools, worked hard at promoting the game and it paid off - it was a sell-out crowd. POBJFKHS AP Paul Dallara, with the help from Pat Bernardo, expertly coached Jim Murray, Bruce Gordon, Michele Schafer and the rest of the teacher's team. The Cheerleading squad was lead by High School Interim Principal Joe Hayward, Tom Sena, Al Rappaport and Sandy Vanderpool and they even acquired help from Old Bethpage's school nurse, Leslie Wiesman. No casualties, but a lot of laughs.

The half time show featured POB's young and future basketball stars interacting and performing with the Wizards. Everyone in the audience could relate to the glee in the winner's young eyes.

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Athletic Booster Club sponsored the evening and provided an array of wonderful raffles including tickets to the Jets vs. Patriots Game coming up in December. Over 25 Booster Club volunteers sold hot dogs, candy, and soda - everything the big shots have and more. The age of the audience varied but the smiles on everyone's face said it all. The final score was not important but the laughs and good time had by all was.