Brenda Gaines inherits a boxing gym from her late father and plans to turn it into the Powerhouse youth center, enlisting the help of local kids to do so. However, a local numbers gang which has been using the building tries to stop her.
After Brenda is framed for drug possession, she and the kids try to figure out who was behind it and clear her name so that Powerhouse can finally open.
The son of an African nation's ambassador, who is prone to stress-related illness, comes to Powerhouse for help, but the gang must save him when he is kidnapped.
Lieutenant Gambrino's son Peter has a drinking problem, and when Pepper spends time with him, she ultimately gets involved in one of his drunken binges, then is framed when Peter later steals the Powerhouse gang's money and possessions.
Overwhelmed by the pressure of the upcoming championship soccer game, Tony fakes a foot injury and is replaced by a player known as "El Gato", whose antagonistic behavior causes dissent among the team.