Team Cheese had just beaten Team Buckets in three consecutive layup contests, so naturally, the team took a moment to admire its handiwork — by watching members of Team Buckets do their 10 push-ups.

Brawley “Cheese” Chisholm celebrates with his team after winning the lay-up contest at 24 Hour Fitness on Monday. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

This was just a sliver of the fun that children enjoyed during the Harlem Globetrotters’ Summer Skills Camp on Monday at 24 Hour Fitness in Hollywood. It was led by Harlem Globetrotters Anthony “Buckets” Blakes and Brawley “Cheese” Chisholm.

The skills camp teaches participants basketball skills, but it also offers life lessons, character building and bullying prevention. And, true to form, the Globetrotters incorporated plenty of laughs into their messages.

“It looks like our son is having a great time,” parent Sylvia Lugo said, adding that she was pleased that the camp was more than basketball. “I think that’s a great thing. That’s one of the reasons we wanted to sign him up.”

Her son, Joaquin, had seen a Globetrotters game recently in Anaheim, and they essentially gained a fan for life, Lugo said.

“He was just so impressed that the players stuck around and signed autographs,” the South Bay resident said. “It was super, super fun.”

That certainly seemed to be the case on Monday. As Chisholm introduced himself — “Cheese like queso” — to the children, Blakes stood a couple feet behind him and mocked him as he spoke. The Globetrotters’ famed silliness and sense of humor was evident throughout the skills camp, as were the players’ ball-handling skills.

That is part of the reason the gym opted to host the team members. Jacob Hoffman, fitness manager, said 24 Hour Fitness wanted to host an event that was fun and ensured that area youth are still fit and active.

“The kids are having a great time, and the parents love it too,” Hoffman said, adding that the business frequently hosts special events like the skills camp. “There’s a lot of hype and buzz going on.”

Blakes said this year is the second that the Globetrotters have partnered with 24 Hour Fitness for the clinics. He said the team held 120 last year, and this year, they will host 320 camps in 18 cities.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Blakes said. “That’s what the Harlem Globetrotters are all about. …We definitely love it — not only a chance to teach basketball skills, but a few Globetrotters skills as well as life lessons. We talk about having great character. We also talk about the ABCs of bullying prevention as well.”

Chisholm agreed, saying that the goal was to make the children better basketball players and great people.

“We pride ourselves on being goodwill ambassadors … on and off the court,” he said. “We want to make sure these kids take home something other than basketball from these clinics.”

The Bronx native referenced the team’s C.H.E.E.R. (Cooperation, Healthy Mind & Body, Effort, Enthusiam and Responsibility) program, which is designed for students six to 12 years old. The program incorporates the Globetrotters’ ball-handling skills, and each of the C.H.E.E.R. character traits are printed on the basketballs. The team encourages students to match their actions with those five character traits in their life experiences.

The Harlem Globetrotters also have several other youth programs. Its Junior Phenom Award is given to children who best demonstrate the Globetrotter spirit. The team’s S.P.I.N. initiative promotes an active lifestyle, and stands for Some Playtime Is Necessary. Lastly, the Globetrotters participate in a Smile Patrol children’s hospital outreach program.

“There’s a lot of things that go into these clinics that kids can take home with them,” Chisholm said.

He said the Globetrotters have now been in existence for 87 years. According to the team’s history, the team began in 1926 as the Savoy Big Five. Since then, the team has played approximately 20,000 games. Chisholm said the team still plays more than 200 games per year, with their world tour starting the day after Christmas.

“We’re always on our world tour,” he added. “We feel good we’re still going on.”

For information, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com.