Harlem Wizards school WHS hoops dreamers

Posted 11/19/15

They gave it their best shot Sunday, but Westport talent came out way on the short end against the visiting Harlem Wizards at Westport High School.

“We got some points,” said Athletic Director Jason Pacheco. “And they gave us some points …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Harlem Wizards school WHS hoops dreamers

Posted

They gave it their best shot Sunday, but Westport talent came out way on the short end against the visiting Harlem Wizards at Westport High School.

“We got some points,” said Athletic Director Jason Pacheco. “And they gave us some points which we needed badly.”

Bravely taking the court for Westport were members of the WHS boys and girls basketball teams and some staffers — Mr. Pacheco, Dan Harrington, Matt Shivers and alumnus Reid Burns.

But it wasn’t enough.

“When they wanted to score, they scored and made it look pretty easy. When they wanted to make the ball back — you get the idea,” Mr. Pacheco said.

In addition to the spectacular dunks and improbably shots, the Wizards brought an array of crowd pleasing tricks — foul shooters had to beware getting pantsed, referees took guff and audience members, especially youngsters, were part of the fun.

Wizard Arnold “A-Train” Bernard asked a woman whether she’d give him a kiss if he made an underhand half-court shot in three tries — he did, of course, and she obliged to loud audience cheers.

When they had a really big dunk in mind, the Wizards gave their opponents fair warning — “they didn’t want anyone getting hurt,” Mr. Pacheco said. “That high-flying stuff that we don’t typically see in the Westport gym.”

“It was all great fun though — everybody seemed to love it, especially the little ones.”

The game was a fund raiser for the WHS senior class.

Harlem Wizards, Westport High School

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.