The Harlem Wizards were back in DeKalb County last week, this time playing at the DeKalb Middle School gym for a worthy cause. The basketball tricksters performed for a sold out crowd to help raise money for the Lady Saints softball field.

On Feb. 24, the Wizards wowed the crowd with trick-hoops and alley-oops, all in a comedic style. The show basketball team faced off with an opposing team consisting of local teachers, coaches and personalities. The game featured some awesome slam-dunks and trick-shots, some football moves on the basketball hardwood, and even some mass dance moves by a packed court.

Organizer of the event, DMS teacher Suzette Barnes, told the Review that the funds from the game will go towards the ongoing construction around the Lady Saints’ softball field. "We started about four years ago, trying to build a new softball field here on the campus of DeKalb Middle School. We have to raise funds for that. We don’t get any support from the county, so we have to raise all the funds. The money tonight will go for that project to help build a concession stand, press box, and restrooms."

Supporters are also working on trying to finish the fencing around the field. "We are currently in the process of trying to finish what we’ve already started out there. All of that has been made possible through donations. Professional Engineering Services in Sparta, did all of our architectural design work, which was over $6,000 that they donated."

Barnes continued, "For the fence, we had to take out a loan for that, and we’re about $3,500 away from paying off that loan. We hope that after tonight we will be able to pay off that loan."

Barnes said that the team has goals they are trying to reach for the field. "Our next goal is to finish the concession stand and press box, where we’ll have restrooms and storage facilities. Once we get that complete, we’ll eventually work on lights."

"We’re trying to raise money for the materials of the building. We’ve talked to building trades at the high school, Mr. Gary Caplinger, and we’re hoping to be able to partner with them and let them do the construction and us be able to purchase the materials."

If you would like to donate money, materials, or skills to the softball field project, you can contact Suzette Barnes at DeKalb Middle School at 615-597-7987 or email sbarnes@k12tn.net. "You can write a check to the DeKalb Middle School Softball Team, and that money will be used for the concession stand/press box."