FREEHOLD — Take a group of children, their parents and 15 basketball teams. Add some food, soft drinks and a score of prizes and you have the makings of one very good time.
Area residents are invited to take a seat in the bleachers at Freehold Borough High School, Broadway, on Saturday as the YMCA Community Center sponsors its Colonial Basketball League’s annual fund-raiser game.
The event, which runs from 5-9 p.m., is being held to bring families together to have a good time, according to Mel O’Neal, the community center’s outreach director.
O’Neal said local organizations are also encouraged to attend the game. In addition to enjoying basketball, organizations can take a table or a booth and promote their own business.
All proceeds from the basketball game will go to the league.
Selected league children from the fifth through eighth grades, the "all-stars," will be standing tall against the parents of the children in the league, while the Colonial League volunteer coaches will run, jump and dribble against the Freehold PBA, the Freehold Fire Department and officers from the Monmouth County Youth Detention Center, Freehold Township. The members of this team are aptly named "Freehold Heroes."
The league, which has 200 players, will be divided into 15 teams. Each team will be raffling off baskets of goodies during the game, according to Brenda Bohn, office manager of the community center.
The event will also provide a small meal that will be served after the game. A donation of $5 will buy a guest baked ziti, chicken wings, salad and dessert.
Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for youths 7-14 and for seniors, and for $1 Colonial Basketball players wearing a team T-shirt and for children 6 and under.
For further information, call the community center at (732) 845-5273.
— Clare Marie Celano