FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2000


"FHSAA Florida Finals FanFare" interactive fan experience to make debut at 2000 FHSAA Florida Boys Basketball Finals

GAINESVILLE – Fans attending the 2000 FHSAA Florida Boys Basketball Finals on March 8-11 at The Lakeland Center will have an opportunity to physically take part in the fun themselves at the inaugural "FHSAA Florida Finals FanFare."

The FanFare, which is presented by "iHigh.Com", will offer fans eight interactive games to play. It will be held in The Lakeland Center exhibit hall immediately across from the entrance to George Jenkins Arena, site of the 2000 FHSAA Florida Boys Basketball Finals. Additional sponsors are Tyson's Food, Dairy Farmer's Inc., the U.S. Marines, Sprint PCS, Florida Dodge Dealers, the City of Lakeland and the Hardwood Hysteria Host Committee.

The FHSAA Florida Finals Fanfare will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the tournament.

Fans with a ticket to one of the tournament sessions will receive same-day free admission to the FanFare. Admission to the FanFare without a tournament session ticket will be $2.

Introduced last August in partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations, iHigh.Com develops and operates web sites aimed specifically at high school students and fans of high school sports. The company is now partnered with 13 state high school associations, and assists free of charge high schools in those states to launch their own web sites under the iHigh.Com banner.

"The FHSAA is pleased to finally offer this exciting opportunity for the fans who attend the Florida Finals," FHSAA Commissioner Robert W. Hughes said. "The Association staff, Board of Directors and Basketball Advisory Committee have talked about putting together an interactive experience like this for years. Thanks to the efforts of The Lakeland Center, the Hardwood Hysteria Host Committee, Host Sports, and, of course the financial assistance of iHigh.Com and our other sponsors, we are finally able to make it happen!"

"We are incredibly excited about having this event added to the Florida Finals," said Tony Delgado, Assistant Director of The Lakeland Center. "We have seen similar events in other states and we are looking forward to the crowds enjoying the interactive experience."

Fans will have the opportunity to play eight interactive games:

• "The Marines Obstacle Course" Presented by the U.S. Marines – test your skill running through this inflatable course . . . wearing a Velcro suit (even a little obstacle course for smaller Marines).

• "The 3-Point Shootout" Presented by Sprint PCS – Just like at the NBA All-Star Weekend, fans will get the chance to claim bragging rights as the best long-distance shooter. Each competitor will get 30 seconds to attempt 12 shots from behind the arc.

• "Free Throw Challenge" Presented by Dairy Farmers Inc. – Each competitor will get the chance to take 12 shots from the charity stripe.

• "Hoops Obstacle Course" Presented by Tyson's Foods – See who has the all-around skills to be a player. Each competitor will go through a series of drills – shooting, jumping, passing, etc. – to see who's the most talented.

• "2-on-2 Crunch Time" Presented by iHigh.Com – You're playing in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The score is tied. There's two minutes to go and you have the ball. Teams of two will play 2-minute games to determine the winner.

• "Bungee Run Basketball" Presented by Tyson's Foods – A game for the younger fans where they will race down the bungee run inflatable with an elastic waist restraint strapped to their waists, grab the ball at the end of the inflatable and successfully shoot it into the basket.

• "Slam Dunk Contest" Presented by the Florida Dodge Dealers – Can you defy gravity? There will be baskets set up at different heights to see who is the best slam dunker.

• "2-Ball" Presented by the U.S. Marines – As seen at the NBA All-Star Weekend, 2-Ball is a shooting competition for teams of two. Each member alternates shots from different areas that are assigned.

Fans are invited to come to the 2000 FHSAA Florida Boys Basketball Finals, watch great high school basketball, and play themselves at the FanFare!

Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org