Harlem Wizards to face Southside Ballers squad full of locals. Here's how to get tickets.

The Harlem Wizards are bringing their high-energy, family-friendly show featuring basketball dunks, trick shots, comedy and more back to South Hagerstown High School on Monday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m.

This will be the second consecutive year the South Hagerstown High School Athletic Booster Club has organized to host the Harlem Wizards. The Wizards made their return to Rebel Fieldhouse on March 13, 2023, much to the delight of a sellout capacity crowd.

Roster of local teachers, coaches and more to face Harlem Wizards

While the Wizards are the main attraction, it was the roster of the Southside Ballers who play an exhibition game against the high-flying entertainers that really brought the community together last year.

A total of 16 teachers, coaches, alumni and community members will make up the Ballers roster in 2024, 11 of which are returning from last year.

Hagerstown Police Department SRO Heather Aleshire, Amanda Fleming, Emily Middlekauff and Tay Stewart headline the crew of returning players.

Officer Aleshire, a Clear Spring graduate, owns the Washington County girls public school record for career points (2,418) and ranks second all-time in the county. She was inducted into the Hagerstown Community College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

Amanda Fleming, currently a physical education teacher at E. Russell Hicks Middle, ranks fifth on the career points list with 1,877. Among public school leaders, Fleming ranks second behind Aleshire. Last year, the Hancock faithful made their presence known at Rebel Fieldhouse to support Fleming. They wore Panthers jerseys and cheered with signs.

Emily Middlekauff owns the girls career points record at South High. Her 1,420 points ranks 20th all-time in the county. She surpassed the previous school career record during a game against Boonsboro on January 14, 2000. A basketball from that game is proudly displayed in the gym lobby trophy case.

Tay Stewart, who has the fourth-most career points in school history (1,066), is back this year as well. Stewart was named the Herald-Mail’s Player of the Year for the 2013-2014 season and selected to the Herald-Mail’s All-Decade girls basketball team. Stewart was part of South High’s nicknamed “Big Three” which included Chelsey Scott, another returning player for this year.

Tom McNicholas (ERH media specialist), Shane Santell (SHHS alumni/current boys basketball head coach/Western Heights Middle PE), Amy Deeds (SHHS health teacher/former girls basketball coach), Courtney Showe (SHHS alumni/assistant softball coach), Keith Hutzell (SHHS assistant boys basketball coach), Jeffrey Wetzel (SHHS alumni/assistant boys basketball coach/Hub City Hogs semi-pro player), and Bobbi Burnett (ERH Safety & Security/SHHS alumni/assistant volleyball coach) round out the returning group.

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Fresh faces join Southside Ballers to face Harlem Wizards

Four new players have been added to the Southside Ballers roster for 2024.

Travis Dodson is an art teacher at South High and an assistant coach for the football and girls basketball programs. He also is a South High graduate.

Tyler Fairley is the 12th grade assistant principal at South High. Before becoming an admin at South, Fairley taught government and was the head coach of tennis program and Smithsburg’s golf program. He was on the roster for the 2023 game, but was unable to play due to an illness.

Chloe Hadley is a teacher in the ENGAGE program at Bester Elementary. She is a South High graduate who had a stint as an assistant girls soccer coach at her alma mater. She was an All-Region XX goalkeeper on the inaugural women’s soccer team at Hagerstown Community College.

Mike Milbury teaches math at South High. He played in a Harlem Wizards game in the past while teaching at a different school. He says the highlight of his experience playing was hitting three 3-point shots.

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St. Maria Goretti girls basketball coach back to coach Southside Ballers

The Southside Ballers will once again be coached by Charles “Sleepy” Burnett. He is a South High graduate and the current girls basketball head coach at St. Maria Goretti. He has coached basketball at many levels over the years including at South High as an assistant for the girls and boys programs and led the Smithsburg girls basketball team to the Class 1A state final during the 2019-20 season.

Tickets to see the Harlem Wizards and Southside Ballers play are on sale now. When purchasing tickets, you will have the choice to have a portion of your ticket sale be donated to a local youth basketball league.

Leagues who have partnered with the Athletic Boosters for donation this year include Ending Needless Violence with our Youth (ENVY) basketball, the Hagerstown Junior Basketball League (HJBL) and Upward Basketball. The donation from your ticket will be matched by the Harlem Wizards.

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How to purchase tickets for Harlem Wizards game

All tickets must be purchased in advance online; go to https://harlemwizards.com/schedule-tickets/. The online box office will be open until 3:30 p.m. the day of the event. Last year this event sold out, so you will want to get your tickets early.

Ticket packages include student general admission $15, regular general admission $20, reserved student and reserved adult $30, reserved student and adult courtside plus $50 and courtside player $125. The courtside player package includes reserved courtside seating next to the Wizards bench, a pregame meet and great with the players, a Wizards jersey (picked up at the game), a souvenir lanyard, a color team photo of the Wizards that is perfect for autographs and the opportunity to play in a three-minute game with the Wizards at halftime.

Doors will open at Rebel Fieldhouse at 5:45 p.m., with the game scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Purchase Wizards gear such as jerseys, basketballs, hats and collectables at the game or order it online at store.harlemwizards.com.

The South Hagerstown High School Athletic Booster Club is offering sponsorship packages for interested local businesses. For information on the sponsorship packages, send an email to shhathleticboosterclub@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Harlem Wizards returning to face Southside Ballers. All to know.