Everyone was on their feet, cheering and chanting, “Here we go, Muck City, here we go!” This was the scene in Belle Glade on Friday, June 24th, as Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County hosted a basketball game against their neighbors to the south Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. The day started around 11:30 a.m. with a guided group tour of Smith & Moore Family Teen Center, for many of the Broward Club members, it was their first time being out in Belle Glade. Visitors were able to mix and mingle while exploring the game room, dance room and culinary art spaces. While having lunch together and enjoying what is affectionally known as Muck City food; it was all fellowship, smiles and laughter for members in the Café area.
“The future looks bright for our teen members because they have the courage and willpower to go out and compete,” said Vice President and CCOO Steve Cornette. “It’s moments like these that allow our teens to realize their full potential and the importance of unity.”
After lunch and a brief warm-up session, the two Club teams squared off on the court. Understanding the nature of the exhibition game, both teams came ready to play. Deep three pointers, tough layups and hardnosed defense were all apart of the game’s highlights. Many of the athletes have aspirations to potentially play at a top division college or university and you could see the array of talent on full display. It was a frenetic sports atmosphere that any fan would enjoy. The battle of the two counties was legendary. It was the first time in history that the two organizations would collaborate and provide an opportunity for their teenagers to connect with other teenagers in their state.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County members showed lots of mutual respect for each other and everyone involved walked away with valuable lessons about what Club life can be. The close contest ended with Smith & Moore Family Teen Center winning the basketball game, but the experience and comradery are what mattered the most. Both organizations left with a renewed appreciation for the impact these innovative experiences are able to make on teen members. This basketball game was the first of three scheduled collaborations between the two Boys & Girls Clubs.
