After recognition of VIPs Arvada Mayor Bob Frie; Ralston Valley AD Jim Hynes; Sergeant Greg Luby of the Arvada Police Department; Al Kilpatrick, charter member of Arvada Rotary Club; and the members of The Arvada Rotary Club, Tim Zollner of Highlands Ranch sang a beautiful rendition of the national anthem on March 8.

The Arvada All Stars took an early lead against the visiting Harlem Ambassadors. Michael Touchton of the All Stars scored from the post early and often with Dan Quartino and Jason Amon hitting from the perimeter.

When Lil' T Turner of the Ambassadors got into some foul trouble, the fun began. She argued foul calls with referee Vincent Barros and she eventually pinned policeman Adam Roon to the floor. Roon made his two foul shots in spite of the hilarious antics of the Ambassador team, trying to distract him.

In the second quarter, the gritty All Stars, led by Jase Fletcher of the Ralston Valley coaching staff, kept the game close with their tough play. Coach Tom McCormick of Arvada was smiling as his minions were very much in the game at half time.

The Ambassadors put on a family halftime show, bringing children from the audience to participate with them. Challenges and games kept everybody involved, and prizes of autographed photos of the Harlem Ambassadors plus wrist bands were given out.

The All Stars came out determined in the third quarter and the Ambassadors began their patented weave to the music of Rihanna. It was showtime as they dazzled the crowd with high-flying slam dunks and smooth ball handling. The arguing started again about the fouls between Jazz Copeland and Lil' T Turner, both of the Ambassadors. Turner went into the crowd and found the biggest, strongest guy she could and promptly adopted him as her "Dad." After Jazz took one look at him, he decided not to argue anymore. The foul shots were made by the All Stars' Curi Yutzy from D'Evelyn after much harassment by the Ambassadors.

After the third quarter, an autographed Harlem Ambassadors basketball was raffled off by Rotarian Jerry Jelinek and won by Rotarian Jack Emery, who doesn't play basketball, but has a grandson who does.

In the fourth quarter, the Ambassadors finally pulled away, despite the efforts of Taryn Brody of Pomona and Milo Duque of the Arvada Rotary Club, two of the All Stars' feature players. The Ambassadors felt lucky to get away with a win against McCormick's tough and persistent All Stars. However, a great time was had by all and this benefit game was for a good cause.

The proceeds of the game will help support the Arvada Rotary Club's Harold R. Carver Memorial academic scholarship program and The Al Kilpatrick Vocational scholarships offered to students in the North Jeffco area. The funds will also help support community projects promoted by Arvada Rotary.

Sponsors include The Denver Marriott West Hotel, Personal Benefit Services (Arvada's Business of the year in 2007), Peerless Tires 4 Less, Bank of the West, Culligan Construction, Aamco Transmissions, 1st Bank, The Arvada Printery and Ann C. Bates of the Arvada Rotary Club.

This event was dedicated to the memory of honorary Rotarian Gayle Laidig.