For this episode, we get Renee seeking to prove girls are just as good at basketball as boys when she organizes a "boys vs. girls" basketball game.
The catalyst begins following opening song "I've Done Everything for You"note . The kids are planning a basketball game and with all four of the boys (Mickey, Kid, Mario and Aaron) joining, there remained one spot open - with Renee offering to join only for the boys to very abruptly slap that request down. Riley then arrives to remind the kids their break is over, setting up next song "Head Over Heels" (with Renee kicking the door in frustration upon heading back to the stage).
The boys are still looking for a 5th player when Renee announces the formation of an all-girl team; where with the guys (in particular, Kid) still talking trash, the girls challenge the boys to a playoff where the losers bake a cake for the winners. Later, Mickey (upon seeing Renee hit a shot) starts getting nervous - until he and the boys see a kid named Ronnie and immediately sign Ronnie up to play with the boys (this will be important later). The girls - upon seeing Ronnie's skill - soon become as dejected as the boys had been just moments earlier; forcing Renee to regroup ("I Can Do It").
Game time starts (with five girls already {Renee, Gloria, Wendy, Andrea and Carletta}; Stacy is assigned to be a cheerleadernote while Riley serves as referee) with "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" playing as the first half of the game resolves itself in an 8-8 tie at halftime. The girls get up to a 12-8 lead before Ronnie gets on fire, almost single-handedly carrying the boys to a 14-12 comeback victory.
By the time action returns to the P*lace, the girls - true to their word - held up their end of the bargain by presenting the boys with a cake, then learn (in between Kid's continued trash talking) that the guys made a cake as well (Stacy at least was surprised to see that). In the midst of the celebration, Mickey is apparently the only one noticing Ronnie is missing from the victory party, and we soon find out why as Ronnie makes her entrance in the P*lace; with the boys being naturally surprised at the identity of their teammate (as Ronnie was quick to point out, they never asked if she was a boy - so she never told them she was a girl); leaving the previously quite verbose Kid choking on admitting a girl was their best player, with Ronnie also being pleasantly surprised upon trying the cake the guys made, setting up closing song "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" (during which a sign-up sheet with tryouts for a new co-ed team can be seen).
A similar storyline would surface in the series' penultimate episode, Season 9's 'Teamwork', with Charlie and Anthony being the only members of Kids Inc. invited to a local basketball tournament, much to the annoyance of the girls in that incarnation of the band.
Songs performed in this episode:
- “I've Done Everything for You“ (Sammy Hagar cover; also
popularized by Rick Springfield); lead vocals by Mickey) - “Head Over Heels” (The Go-Go's cover; lead vocals by Gloria)
- “I Can Do It“ (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Renee)
- “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (Pat Benatar cover; lead vocals by Stacy)
- “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic“ (The Police cover; lead vocals by Gloria)
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Author Appeal: The first, though far from last, time the kids are shown playing Basketball either as part of a game or shooting around - as apparently both Thomas Lynch and/or Gary Biller were basketball fans.
- The Bet: The way the boys vs. girls basketball game is settled - with the winners getting a cake baked by the losing side.
- Passionate Sports Girl: Ronnie, and (in this episode at least) arguably Renee.
- Samus Is a Girl: Ronnie being revealed to be a girl after going home to change for the victory party, between her name, relatively short hair and also her having a fairly raspy voice.
- Tomboyish Name: Ronnie being short for Veronica.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: The male members of the band.
- You Go, Girl!: The main premise of this episode.
