get Wizards' tickets for only $13

Here's your chance to see some professional basketball: the Wizards will be playing on Friday, March 25, from 7-9pm at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center near Rosslyn.  Tickets are a bargain for adults at merely $13 in advance, while students and seniors can scoop tickets for just $10.   Proceeds from the game will support the Arlington Office of Teen Programs.  Get your tickets now before they all sell out!

A Wizards player to watch is Washington-area favorite Arthur "King Arthur" Lewis.  He grew up on the tough streets of Baltimore, graduated from high school, and went on to college at nearby Bowie State University. At Bowie, he made the Dean's List three times and was an academic all-American.  He led the Bowie State Bulldogs' basketball team to a 31-4 record and to the Division 2 Final Four.  He also personally led the UCIAA Conference in Assist/Turnover ratio.  He's an inspiring example of rising above difficult circumstances.

The Wizards will play against the "Arlington Elite."  No one is quite sure who the Arlington Elite are.  The team reportedly consists of Arlington teachers, recreation staff, and community members.  The Arlington Elite inexplicably does not include the Managing Editor of Ode Street's finest news source.   With or without him,  you might expect the game to be a total blowout.

But a couple of factors might make the game actually competitive.  The Wizards' website explains:

The Harlem Wizards have a unique mission: create awe-inspiring events throughout the country. Whereas a NBA team's success is measured in wins and losses, the Wizards victory lies in the millions of smiles they are responsible for and the millions of dollars raised for charitable organizations, schools, and foundations across the world.

The Arlington Elite aren't used to losing.  If they start losing, they surely get surly and start frowning.  The Wizards won't want that to happen.  So they'll probably let the Arlington Elite score a few.

Another important factor is officiating. The Arlington Elite should demand that an elite official from our local Cardinal Basketball Officials Association work the game.  For maximum authority and prestige, the natural choice is Cardinal Basketball's legendary Rules Interpreter, Mike Preston.  Preston's unsurpassed rules knowledge should be sufficient to get the Arlington Elite at least a few free shots.  The Ode Street Tribune urges the Arlington County Board to ask Preston to work the game. 

Yorktown wins Bookjammin' Girls Hoops

The Yorktown Patriots won the Bookjammin' High School Girls Basketball Tournament with a thrilling victory over the surging Flint Hill Huskies yesterday night at Marshall High School. The Patriots were up by 13 right near the end of the 3'rd quarter, but the Huskies pulled within two points with only 1:17 to go in the game. The Patriots stiffened their defense, two good Huskies' shots failed to drop, and the Patriots' junior guard LaNia Charity converted a clutch free throw to give the Patriots the win, 47-44.

The Centreville Wildcats took third in the girls tournament with a 55-44 victory over the Langley Lady Saxons. Elected to the tournament all-star team were Potomac senior Lynetta Kizer, Robinson sophomore Samatha Partonen, Centreville senior Chelsea Dunn, Langley freshman Audrey Dotson, Flint Hill senior Michelle Ketcham, and Yorktown junior LaNia Charity. Tournament MVP was Yorktown senior Billee Ripy. Marshall High School won the Sportsmanship Award.

Additional 2007 Bookjammin' high school girls game results: In the first round, Langley defeated Robinson, 53-48; Flint Hill defeated Jefferson, 58-23; Centreville defeated Potomac, 68-50; Yorktown defeated Marshall, 71-28. In the semifinals, Flint Hill over Langley, 59-45; Yorktown over Centerville, 55-51. In consolation play, Robinson beat Jefferson, 63-46, and Potomac beat Marshall, 73-55.

The Cardinal Basketball Officials Association (CBOA) sponsors the Annual Bookjammin' Hoops Basketball Tournament. Eight girls' teams and four boys' teams participated in the tournament. All proceeds from the tournament are used to award scholarships to students who participate in basketball as a player, trainer, or cheerleader and who achieve academic excellence. Recipients of Bookjammin' Hoops Scholarships in 2006 were Alex Harper, Chantilly High School; Christine Reardon, Robert E. Lee High School; and Brent McDaniel, Stone Bridge High School

The Bookjammin' Hoops Tournament depends on volunteers and supporters. Local business, especially Platinum Sponsor Brion's Grille, contributed to the Bookjammin' Scholarship Fund. Rogers Harrison, a CBOA volunteer, directed the tournament. All the officials were unpaid volunteers. Appreciation is also due to the many fans who came to the game and cheered the players on. Knowledgeable fans also repeatedly recognized the excellent work of the highly skilled officials.