Streetball Legends and locals entertain 745 at Show Me Center

Some came to see "The Professor" and his ball handling and passing skills. Others came hoping to see a 720 dunk.

But probably not many of the 745 people at the Show Me Center Saturday evening expected to see a close basketball game in the AND1 Streetball Tour.

The Streetball Legends team, which had never lost a game for local promoter Carlos Nelson, trailed the Fro Shapers, which went undefeated last season in the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation League, with three minutes left before winning 88-84.

The Fro Shapers' defense frustrated the Streetball Legends by breaking up passes that might have led to slam dunks, which is what the fans came to see.

Vince Howard of Sikeston, Mo., brought son Payton and wife Astrid to the game to see Grayson Boucher, aka "The Professor." He and Payton had seen a streetball performance last year at the Sikeston Field House.

"The Professor wasn't there last year," Howard said. "We wanted to come out and see what the Professor brings to the floor."

The Professor used an assortment of crossover and between-the-legs dribbles and set up teammates with his passes.

Boucher said the players have to balance the entertainment aspect of the game with the desire to win.

"I look at it like it's 50-50," said Boucher, who plays 50 to 100 nights per year. "You want to come out and you want to win, because we're all competitors. But at the same time, people pay to watch a certain brand of basketball that's more entertaining than regular basketball."

Taurian Fontenette, nicknamed "The Air Up There," is also nicknamed "Mr. 720" because of his signature play, turning two 360-degree revolutions while dunking.

"If I'm really feeling it and the crowd's into it, I like to try to give it to them," he said.

Josh Diercks and three of his Steelville, Mo., high school basketball teammates drove more than 100 miles to see the game.

"I'm just looking to see a lot of streetball moves and stuff," Diercks said.

Pertinent address:

1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO