Chris “Chicken” Turnquist, a Harlem Superstar Player, smiles as two children playfully spin a basketball over his head.

‘‘The energy is really good. It’s nice to come here and put some smiles on everyone’s faces,” said Ricky ‘‘7 Footer” Lopes, a Harlem Superstar player from New Haven, Conn. ‘‘For one night for two hours, I guarantee you that you’ll be able to smile. It’s like abig party.”

As promised, the crowd was laughing, some even dancing, into the night.

‘‘It was awesome,” said Jennifer, 10, who came to see the show with her mother. ‘‘They’re hilarious.”

The show amused even the older crowd.

‘‘It was very fun and entertaining. We loved the music and that personal touch when the players came into the bleachers,” said Jennifer’s mother, Angie Hunt.

The entire game was filled with antics, from a clown running through the bleachers throwing water, to a wrestling match with the referee. The Quantico Men’s Varsity basketball team played a flawless game without any prior rehearsals.

‘‘The [Harlem Superstar players] tell us what to do during the game, like, don’tplay hard defense,” said shooting guard Aaron Davis Jr. ‘‘It feels more free; it’s agood experience.”

The audience was a part of the show as much as the players. With the disc jockey playing music from the Black Eyed Peas to Michael Jackson, it was a nonstop party.

‘‘You feel the warmth [from the children] and you see their eyes light up,” said Lopes. ‘‘First and foremost, I want the kids to be happy,” said Lopes.

This annual event has been something to look forward to every year for the residents of Quantico and the surrounding community.

‘‘The Harlem Superstars have been coming to Quantico for 12 years,” said Connie Witten, the recreation, information, ticket and tours manager here. ‘‘We are very pleased to be hosting them another year and we hope to have them back again next year.”

For more information about the Harlem Superstars, visit www.harlemsuperstars.com. Additional photos from the game can be found at, www.marines.mil.