WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (JANUARY 7, 2025) — Twenty-five players have joined the team of teachers, students and staff who will take on the Harlem Wizards in a charity basketball event at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Williamsport Area High School (WAHS).
The event, presented by Geisinger, returns to the Magic Dome to benefit the Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation (WASDEF), the district’s nonprofit affiliate.
Coached by Williamsport Area Middle School (WAMS) Principal Kirk Felix, the “Millionaire Magicians” are set to challenge the entertainment basketball squad known for its fancy teamwork and ball handling.
The district’s team is made up of the following:
- Jacob Anderson, assistant principal, Curtin Intermediate
- Andrew Bennett, teacher, Lycoming Valley Intermediate
- Jamie Bower, teacher, Lycoming Valley Intermediate
- Isabelle Campbell, WAHS senior
- Austin Chen, WAHS senior
- Dewey Dobbs, intervention specialist, Curtin Intermediate
- Jaquille Drummond, intervention specialist, Lycoming Valley Intermediate
- Jackie Eberhart, teacher, WAHS
- Tristin Forney, assistant principal, Lycoming Valley Intermediate
- Molly Forney, teacher, Jackson Primary
- Kellen Jackson, WAHS senior
- Emily Kime, WAHS senior
- Shannon Knight, intervention specialist, Lycoming Valley Intermediate
- Brandon McGaw, teacher, Curtin Intermediate
- Dez Noble, WAHS senior
- Beckham Sibiski, teacher, WAHS
- Talesha Taylor, teacher, Lycoming Valley Intermediate
- Jolecia Walker, WAHS senior
In addition, seven players will join from Geisinger: Michael Brown, Brian Dixson, Reese Doyle, Brianne George, Tori Gordner, Wally Karl and Clayton King.
A new Harlem Wizards team promises a new show and new comedy, keeping the event fresh for the audience.
The event made its initial appearance at the Magic Dome in 2014 and continued annually until 2018. The Wizards have returned for the last two years, marking a milestone of collectively generating more than $154,000 for the education foundation.
Tickets are on sale online through the education foundation’s website under “Events” at www.wasdeducationfoundation.org or through www.harlemwizards.com.
Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for adults. Children 3 and under are free.
This year’s ticket packages:
- Reserved tickets for both students and adults can be purchased for $24. Reserved ticketholders receive special reserved seating close to the court, a free team poster for kids and $5 souvenir voucher for adults.
- Courtside Plus tickets for both students and adults can be purchased for $50. These ticketholders receive courtside reserved seating, pregame meet-and-greet with players, souvenir lanyard, color team photo and $5 discount on a Wizards replica jersey for kids, and a $10 gift certificate for adults.
New this year: Five lucky attendees who purchase a raffle ticket will be selected to participate in the Wegmans Half-Court Haul at halftime. Each participant will have up to three attempts to sink a half-court shot, and the first to make it wins $500.
Other sponsors this year include: EQT, Bayada Home Health Center, Horizon Federal Credit Union and Woodlands Bank; with the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Webb Weekly, Lamar Advertising and Backyard Broadcasting as media sponsors.
The WASD Education Foundation is the recognized nonprofit affiliate of the school district. The education foundation facilitates charitable giving and permanent legacies based on individual areas of interest in educational innovation, the arts, athletics and scholarships. For more information on the foundation, visit www.wasdeducationfoundation.org.
###
