A gate and target assembly is raised from a first position, wherein a target is positioned in a channel on a playfield to interfere with passage of a ball through the channel, to a second position, wherein the target is positioned above the channel so as not to interfere with passage of the ball through the channel. In a preferred construction, a plurality of targets are pivotally mounted between two opposed upright brackets that extend from the playfield and define opposite sides of the channel, and the targets are moved from the first position to the second position by energizing a solenoid that is linked to a swinging crank pin of the assembly. Moreover, the assembly is covered by the simulated head of an animal, such as a hippopotamus, and the simulated animal head pivots up and down with the targets. A timer circuit, for example, keeps the simulated animal head up and the channel open for a predetermined period of time beginning when any one of the targets is struck. The assembly therefore provides a novel game feature to attract player interest.