Photo by Doug Valentine The Fort Detrick Black Knights gave the Harlem Ambassadors a run for their money during January’s entertaining game. In the end, the undefeated Ambassadors took the game with a 50-32 score.

The Ambassadors are a product of Harlem Ambassadors, Inc., a Colorado-based producer of show basketball entertainment comprised of excellent basketball players who are all drug-free college graduates and serve as positive role modes, said LadË Majic ProphËte, commentator and player. The goal of the Ambassadors is to promote the values of good citizenship, staying in school, staying off drugs and fostering racial harmony.

During their first visit on post, the ‘‘Ambassadors” presented their ‘‘Stay in School — Stay off Drugs” program to about 250 children from Fort Detrick’s Child and Youth Services programs and from the local Frederick community Boys and Girls Club.

Members of the Harlem Ambassadors’ team showed the kids some basketball tricks, and then each of the six players spoke about his own life experiences. The team mates presented the positive messages of staying in school and off drugs, among many others.

The next evening the rafters of the Odom Fitness Center’s gym were shaking from the crowd of about 800 basketball fans who packed the venue to see the Harlem Ambassadors in action against Fort Detrick’s Black Knights, one of the post’s intramural basketball teams.

Maj. Gen. George Weightman made the most of his tall stature as he threw out the ceremonial jump ball to begin the game.

The post’s Black Knights played hard, but the final score of 50-32 in favor of the Ambassadors wasn’t a surprise to many. The entertaining team took the last 69 games and has been undefeated for nine years.

Along the floor sidelines sat several children who had attended the previous day’s inspirational program and had been made ‘‘Honorary Ambassadors.” They joined everyone in the laughter and shouts that greeted not just the playing but also the tricks, singing and dancing that also were part of the game.

After the game, Knights forward Hasting Newbill (#43) said ‘‘Tonight was great fun. It’s always good to get away from the hustle and bustle of work. We play together a lot, and we just wanted to go out and have fun. We gave it 100 percent of our effort. You never know until it’s over — we might have won!”

Hundreds of kids and adults bought souvenirs and lined up to have them signed by the players.

Twelve-year-old Stuart Delchamps waited patiently in line with his friend, Joe Kunze, and his father, Navy Commander Gordon Delchamps.

‘‘We came to see the basketball,” said Stuart, who attends Monocacy Middle School. ‘‘They were really funny and played really good ball.”

Both boys bought souvenir basketballs and had them autographed by all the Harlem Ambassadors players.

Darlene Carver of Army Community Services was not disappointed that she chose to spend her evening in the gym.

‘‘It was wonderful,” she said. ‘‘Both sides did a great job. Our team gave it their all; they really worked up a sweat. It was a great show and really good playing.”

‘‘This is a wonderful program and sets a good example for our kids,” said Terry Baker, MWR. Baker initiated contact with the team when he heard they would be in the Frederick area this January.

‘‘God put us together,” said ProphËte after the game. ‘‘It took us five and a half months to build the team. Some people said we set the bar too high, but we knew we could build a team.”

ProphËte explained that there are two traveling eight-person teams of Harlem Ambassadors that are on the road many months out of each year. The team that played at Fort Detrick had just come from La Plata, Md.; the other group was currently in Kansas.

‘‘Sometimes we get to see something of the places we visit, but a lot of the times we don’t,” she said with a laugh.

‘‘Fort Detrick is one place we really wanted to come to. We know that the Soldiers are sacrificing each and every day. We hope that we can put a smile on their faces for three hours. God gives us each different gifts. Ours is entertainment and basketball.”