Trotters a slam dunk at amusing families
Young basketball players inspired at Memorial Centre
Lily Marshall’s dance moves caught the eye of a Harlem Globetrotter at the Memorial Centre on Thursday night.
The eight-year-old was out of her seat dancing to the music in the stands when a player paused on the court to groove with her.
When the moment passed, Lily’s face was beaming as she looked back at her mother and brother in disbelief.
“It felt good,” Lily said with a chuckle. “Because normally I dance and nobody comes and joins me.”
Her older brother Hayden sat with their mom Laurie Marshall to take in the game.
His favourite part was watching the players dunk. In fact, it even “kinda” made the 11-year-old think of picking up the sport.
The Globetrotter tickets were a Christmas gift for the whole Marshall family (although dad ended up having to work). The Marshalls give “experiences” as a present that the family can enjoy together.
“I think it’s hilarious,” Laurie said of the Globetrotters. “It’s really great.”
Gemma Fleming, 9, and her sister Charlotte, 6, bounced tiny Globetrotter basketballs in the lobby as intermission approached.
Gemma’s favourite part was the game and Hoops – the only woman on the team.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Gemma. Charlotte liked watching the players dunk and “do funny stuff.”
It was the first time the girls had seen the show, but it was the second time for their dad Rowan Fleming.
He saw the Globetrotters at the Memorial Centre when he was 14. “I remember it clearly,” he said. A former basketball player in his younger years, Rowan hopes the show will ignite a passion for the sport in his daughters.
“This is a primer,” he said. Meanwhile, Adrianna Malloy doesn’t need any encouragement when it comes to basketball. The 10-year-old already plays for Peterborough Power.
She went to the show with her dad Brock Malloy. They also went to the event last time it was in Peterborough two years ago.
“I like when they do all the funny tricks,” Adrianna said. “I also like the balloon mascot – that was my favourite part.”
During the first part of the show, an inflatable mascot stepped onto the court to bust a few moves.
With his daughter’s love for basketball and the event being a guaranteed good time, Brock said they decided to see the Globetrotters again.
“It’s a great show,” said Brock.
It felt good. Because normally I come and dance and no one joins me. LILY MARSHALL 8-YEAR-OLD HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS FAN