Monarchs players Rebekkah Brunson and Laura Harper, in conjunction with Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA, hosted the Discover Card Home Court Challenge at ARCO Arena on Tuesday.

More than 100 boys and girls from Hotshots Basketball League participated in the skills and drills basketball clinic and the half-court basketball skills competition against five other WNBA cities.

"We did a few drills and showed them a few moves, encouraged them, played and just had a really good time," Harper said smiling.

"I enjoy being able to come out here, have a good time and let them know we're here and we want to encourage them," Brunson added. "We want to see them do well and see them succeed. We just want to be an example that if they work hard, no matter what they want to accomplish, it can happen."

Harper and Brunson were joined by Monarchs merry mascot Monty, who kept the kids smiling and laughing while they learned some of the finer points of the game.

"The fundamentals are definitely important," Brunson said. "I'm going to speak on behalf of females here. It's definitely important for females to hone all the fundamentals because you're not always going to be athletically superior, but if you know what you're doing, you know the game and you work hard, you can still be successful."

Along with lessons on how to improve their game, the youth went home with a certificate of participation and a Monarchs gift bag, which included a stop watch, water bottle, wristband, headband and mini-basketball.

"I went to some basketball camps," Harper said of her youth. "But I never went to a camp where there were professionals hands-on, right there.

"It was so much fun," Harper continued. "Watching the kids, they loved it. We love this game just as much as they do, and it just felt good to be here with them and share those emotions with them."

The Discover Card Home Court Challenge is one of many community events the Monarchs are hosting during the WNBA's month-long recess in observation of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The winning city will receive a Discover Card Home Court.