Georgia Public Broadcasting presents the American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs.

27 Georgia Wheelchair Basketball Championship.

Funding for this broadcast is made possible by sloppy and sad attorneys at law, the Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local union number 72.

And by the National Franchisee Association.

From the arena at whatever center, it's the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Wheelchair basketball Championship.

Today, the decaf silver streaks at four and two take on the West Georgia Wolverines at four and two for the title holder one.

I'm Dave Gardner with you here as we get set to roll.

And we are excited about this basketball championship right here.

And I'm joined by two very special people this afternoon.

I'll go ahead and introduce you to the young lady to my left.

First, Mr. Miss Leslie Sweat.

Leslie, thanks for being with us right here.

And you're going to be an old pro at this.

You've been with us now for a few years, and we look forward to your expertise once again.

Well, thanks a lot.

You know, I always enjoy this.

This is a big game for the kids.

It's a lot of fun for me.

And we're just glad to be here.

There you go.

Some great matchups here.

Indeed.

And let's go ahead and turn over here now and introduce you to the elevator from Decatur, Mr. Herb White joining us once again.

Herb, thanks for being with us.

And I tell you what, a great, great match up here today.

West Georgia taking on the Cavs should be a good one.

Should be.

Dave, both of these teams coming in at four and two.

Coach McIntyre's team kind of turn it around after a slow start.

They lost their first two games by by one point each and then beat both of those teams by ten and 12 respectively during the season.

And each squad's only going to have six players suited out today.

So watch out for the fouls.

Absolutely.

Two, four and two teams set to square off and start looking forward to the to the matchup.

Indeed, there of course, both teams with six players, as Herb said, should be interesting.

Let's go ahead, throw it courtside for today's introductions.

Mr. Tom Clark, our announcer.

A Hall of Famer slapping incident, has turned into an adventure Association management group today.

The two Georgia wheelchair basketball teams go ahead and run Georgia, if you can get over three well, well before you know, to the Wolverines.

Now they are starting with they believe they had three brothers in the beginning of all 3006 in the 2010.

And probably I feel I'm just now I think JJ Abrams And number three, Ben get from the start of the film also Lady Carter number 33 goes on I think they're going to go directly to graduate excuse hey 1132 Richard will get 100 and and a senior.

And even before I let you know like hey this both of you can help three day for the New Hampshire lottery as Mr. Mark Miller Co-Coach right there and this is your own team 3000.

I know you're going now you know never you never tell your team not only to get to know the guy anyways, blah, blah.

Christian Academy never really listening.

The 2000 more to your national debut will cherish the last community.

Also the 2008 Winter Shop.

We still have a good chance for the best team beyond our earnings.

Now we have a Super Bowl on Tuesday in a three different category.

Each year you're getting more player material and for 60 and while speak the residence it is a little bit different.

In 2006 tremendous.

Before now there might be a really high risk thing to do your head coach Rick Snyder and Rick and couple other with original Wolverines the game.

So there you have it.

The two camps over streaks in the west Georgia Wolverines for the title when we return to the arena Gwinnett Center.

Stay with us.

Get started.

Let's get started.

Let's get it started.

Let's get started.

Let's get it started here in the cab out West Georgia, set to tip it off.

Let's meet the other member of our team today, Mr. Gerald, all of various courtside.

Gerald Thanks a lot.

Dave.

Well, these two teams met in the regular season.

Each team won a game on the other team's home court.

Well, in addition to those two games, the cab got a chance to do a little extra scouting when they attended West Georgia's last regular season game.

I talked to Coach Miller before the game and he mentioned that that definitely helped him prepare for this game.

He knows the Wolverines wants to run and they practiced for that for the last two weeks, so maybe a little advantage there.

Thank you, Gerald.

We'll check back in with you as we get set to rock and roll.

Dave Garner heard right.

Leslie Swetnam with your Right here on Gp-B.

And we are underway in this year's version of the wheelchair basketball championship.

Glad you could join us right here in the cab in silver streaks out of the crater and the West Georgia Wolverines out of Warm Springs.

Very glad to be working with you again.

And we've seen this game now for a few years.

It just gets bigger and better every year.

And we've seen the level of competition, it seems like be raised with each and every season in our fourth season doing this.

And Georgia Public Broadcasting is very proud to be able to do this.

And Leslie, I was noticing on the same side, there's more younger players this year of we lost some people to graduation, moving on, and now we've got some younger kids moving in that we have.

Yeah, we've lost quite a few to graduation.

And you know, you see a team this young and you got to think what's going to happen in three or four years when they're bigger and stronger and faster, they're going to look at Kyle Wriston right there again, the senior at the line here to open up the game, averaging six points on the season.

A student at Manchester High School wrist and of course a big part of the Wolverines success over the last couple of years.

Again, West Georgia, the runner up last year to the Atlanta Wolfpack in catch who that foul was on.

But again we're going to have to watch the fouls because both these teams was just six players suited up on each side.

Somebody could be playing with less than a full contingent before we're done here today could be a very interesting scenario indeed.

As this thing plays out, everybody's going to really have to watch out.

But Leslie, you were talking before the game that the Cavs played kind of a physical style this year.

So I wonder if they're going to try to back off that being a little shorthanded today or if they're just going to stick with their game plan?

Well, that'll be interesting to see.

They don't know how to back off very well, to be honest.

They're a very quick and aggressive team, a nice pass there, but it's going to be a charge on Kyle Wriston.

Well, I think resting with a little bit of a smile right there and a reminiscent of Pistol Pete on the break, slipping it behind the head into the middle.

That's Kyle as he's got some fancy ball handling skills as we saw last year in that championship game.

As we talk about a two point game in 2006, hopefully the seven championship will live up to that same hype.

Back on the other end, Kenneth Anderson, number 20 with the basketball looking inside right here, nice little pass inside there to Daniel McLaughlin, who puts it up and in for the first points of the game.

Daniel McLAUGHLAN, an eighth grader from Shamrock Middle School, averaging four points a game and a good start for the silver streaks, good ball movement by the silver streaks.

They add two or three passes to get the best possible shot.

Take it yet.

Paul Lewis picked up by the cab, the shot a little bit short right there from Richard Lucas.

I saved by Mitch Leslie.

The cab a little shorthanded today.

Cassidy Morton out of the lineup and that's a that's tough news tough late news for the silver streaks.

That's a big hurt for them.

She's one of their better scorers, and unfortunately, she's with the nature of her disability.

A foul can lead to some broken bones.

And that's just what happened to her.

We're going to miss her.

Eight points the game here this afternoon.

So off the glass.

How Douglas Johnson did he call that one day?

I didn't hear him call banks, but they're going to give it to him in the sixth grader from Mountain View Elementary, averaging right at five points a game all the season.

He's got two there to tie it up at two.

And Leslie you see on the sheet then 31 Daniel McLaughlin says fastest wheelchair player in the state.

Is he also a track performer?

I believe he is working on some track stuff as well.

I don't think he did the GHC initiative with us this year, but I don't know why not.

Because he is quick as a cat.

I noticed him a moment ago.

He's really getting up the floor and very aggressive on his bio.

I believe he actually said that he was the fastest wheelchair athlete on the court there.

So he's got confidence in his skills, that's for sure.

He's not lacking in that area.

Now.

Nice movement right here by the Wolverines again in the home white today Jakob in the visiting blue his shot just off the mark there by bay and quickly down on the other end a little breakaway right here for the cab That's MacLaughlin number 31 And another bucket for Daniel.

He showed his speed there, getting in front of the whole pack, and he was able to slow up and take his time because he was so far out in front convert the layup.

The and we were talking before the game about how every time a team for the past four years anyway we've done this the new team tends to be a little star struck and doesn't quite perform and my thought was that this two cab team might just be young enough that they don't have to be scared.

All they're really getting after Kyle over here, they've assigned two people and Daniel McLaughlin is shadowing him all over the court, trying to keep him from getting the ball in his hands because Kyle is he may be the best passer I've seen in these games in four years.

MCLAUGHLIN Picking up his first foul, Josh for the cab, playing a little tight there.

They're not going to let Kristen have a lot of room to maneuver today.

And there's the first two for Kyle Risdon.

As I said, they need a little baseline here.

They got a little screen out on the wing, took it all the way to the hoop.

Kristen as we talk about the senior, they're the leader of this West Georgia Wolverines squad.

Of course even more amazing with Kyle Wrist and he plays one handed and do the things he can do with the basketball.

It's just incredible.

It's really amazing as the way he maneuvers his chairs with just the one hand over and back ball Right.

They're going to be called on Android.

You lost the handle.

Try to get it back.

Went over.

Take another look at that last bucket here by the Wolverines.

Nice little screen as you mentioned there, hurt.

And we'll let Leslie explain some of the rules as we go along, because there is what we do have violations such as traveling and things like that.

And Leslie can let us know because that's what's so amazing about the way these athletes handle the ball.

Not only do they have to handle the ball, but they have to dribble it without taking too many maneuvers.

That's exactly right.

They have to push is on their chair.

And that is also a pivot which turns their chair and then a push that's considered to push it.

So they have to have very quick hands to handle the ball as well as a chair, jump ball, fall.

Right.

Their possession area in favor of the Cavs with the ball rolling around and they're allowed to do I don't know if it's because of the youth or not, but it seems to be a quicker pace to this game than we've seen in the last several years.

These guys are really moving it.

McLaughlin averaging four.

He's already got that here in the first quarter.

So these teams are ready to shoot the basketball here today.

He's got that fiery Irish temperament.

It looks like Jimmy type of way right there by Laura Ray, of course, an eighth grader at Flint River Academy has done some modeling and taken away Bob McLaughlin for the physical play right there, took it away from Johnston and McLaughlin quickly down on the other end, as we've already seen him been here a couple of times in his first period.

He is quick and a little too far into the hoop on that one couldn't convert, but they come up with the rebound.

you know, he.

And they're going to count that one right there.

Was it before the play that's going to be going the other way.

The nice thing about Laura is that she scores.

She can also do the cheering for her score if she, in fact, is a cheerleader, that she is six, eight minute periods, but a running clock.

And you get a look at Coach Miller looking on there.

Coach Miller, the dean of Ask coaches, I guess, 18 years or so with the program there.

So he's got the experience to lead a team.

Yeah, he was coaching for the cap county before the formation of the league, but the camp he's had in that box for seven years.

nice pass by Daniel McGlothlin there just to see who got the buckets looked like.

Kenneth Anderson I believe that was a nice play.

Take another look at that one right here.

Nice pass inside there.

I thought Andrew might have been in a little too deep right there.

A tough angle, but he got it to go.

Good shot there, Anthony.

Sixth grader at Chamblee Middle School.

Fans can get a chance to watch Kyle rise to number three every time he comes up the floor for the Wolverines.

West Georgia has somebody all over him backcourt pressure here by the silver streaks but they get it out of there and now Reston trying to chase it down right here and contact with McLaughlin hard Daniel giving up about I don't know 75 £100 on that one Pretty brave that's it First period is over with a good win brewing here the cap six west Georgia four we're back with period number two when we return from the arena at Gwinnett Center.

Back here at the Arena again at center, Dave Gardner, Leslie Sweat and Herb White with you right here on GPB.

Gerald Oliveira courtside with us this afternoon as the Cavs silver streaks and West Georgia Wolverines go at it this year.

Basketball wheelchair championship.

Glad you could join us.

A good first quarter sold to Cab lead it by 2624.

And that's where we pick up action here in the second period.

And the story so far for the cab has been Daniel McLaughlin, who has been up and down the floor.

He had four points in that first quarter to complement to by Kenneth Anderson.

And that's the difference in the game right now.

And he has a silver streak, I'll guarantee you.

They're going to look at Andrei dribbling right here, sort of in that point guard out there a little bit.

Looks like he has the makings of a pretty good little point guard.

Only in the sixth grade here, again, competing against guys up to senior in high school.

You know, Leslie, we're talking about rules.

And we just saw the A four second call right there, right in wheelchair by way of a four second lane violation versus a three second.

And the able bodied version of the sport he used to call 2 seconds for me when I was playing same.

There's Richard MacIntyre, fifth season now as head coach for the West Georgia Wolverines, an old U.S. Army captain and a jump ball call underneath speed, almost a lost call.

I can't remember the last.

I called several college games this year and haven't seen a three second call yet.

I can tell you that there's Coach Mark Miller, as we mentioned, the dean of coaches with the adaptive sports programs 18th season.

Unbelievable.

It's done an excellent job.

Now, one of these coaches, of course, coached multiple sports.

They coached the soccer and the football.

That's correct.

But most of them do.

Now, some of the teams will switch out coaches for different, different sports, but overall, they tend to do more than one sport.

At least two out of three now.

We'll talk a little bit about that later.

All of these athletes just about plays, multiple sports as well.

And then a lot of a lot of great honors, not just in athletics but in academics as well.

And we'll mention some of those after a while.

Timothy Peake took that last shot.

You might remember Peake from last year's game.

He was a member of the Atlanta Wolfpack who won the championship, and now he's trying to make it two titles in two years with two different teams that we don't have free agency in the sport.

But I think he changed institutions and entered into the West Georgia district.

So that's why he's playing with those guys now.

Rebound right there by Anderson, who does give up a little bit of size there, especially sitting side by side with our system.

But Anderson, this is good hustle right here.

And we'll stay with West Georgia.

They shot right here, nearly went in.

Eugene Dalton Lane, put up the shot there and it rattled in and out.

And McLaughlin, I tell you what, I'm starting to believe everything that they said about him and his speed up and down the floor.

He got down there in a hurry trying to look for D'Andre.

Hot right there, but just couldn't quite get it inside All that nice pitch ahead by Kyle wrist and peek with an open look right here Put it up and score stupid.

This girl has such a nice touch on the ball.

That's a hard pass to make.

I know it looks easy, but the kid that everyone can hit on it adjust to the ball like an athlete on their feet.

Cancel the passes and just right.

They're not going to get it.

It's very difficult to throw the ball when you're playing with two legs if you're not planted firmly on the ground, when you just have one leg, are you off balance and you imagine throwing from a chair that's on the move.

Is that really saying something?

he's got excellent peripheral vision.

I mean, he's as good as any athlete I see playing basketball in the USA these last couple of years.

He sees the floor amazingly well.

He really does.

It's a definite strength.

First wristed what a distance throw at a Georgia first game.

Threw a football 30 yards from the chair on a flat screen TV.

So again, the little state wide exposure there for some of these guys doing a lot of local pieces and so forth.

Nice block by Kenneth Andrew and then towards Leslie what I want to hear about is some of your guys put a weapon on some politicians earlier this year I believe we did.

We did.

We took on the gentleman.

And then ladies, as a matter of fact, from the House of Representatives down in Georgia State University.

And I believe the final was 42 to 2 or something.

That was the time, 42 to 2, I believe in front of you guys, the good guys, the good guys.

And I believe that's going to be on prep sports plus coming up next week.

So that should be a lot of fun to watch.

Douglas Johnston right here with two more for West Georgia, who is now pulled ahead by 28268, trailed six four after the first period.

So four unanswered by the Wolverines in last year's state runner up try to make it to the championship this year as you mentioned, Leslie, the the team making their first appearance usually at a disadvantage because it seemed so star struck a little bit more by six and a half or so to get settle down.

Meanwhile, this team that's been here tends to tends to block all that out and just go after that title.

The silver here today, though, is it that they don't look scared at all this?

No, I don't.

Silver Streak four or five shot attempts they're good job rebound it couldn't get it to go down but they're going to maintain possession I believe for the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs formed in 96.

Did you get a look there of coach MacIntyre, chair of the Georgia State Spelling Bee Committee for about 20 years.

So he's been pretty active, ran off the floor, done that eight West Georgia averaging 22 points a game offensively allowing 16 and a half to cab right around 20 points offensively allowing just over 17.

So almost identical in the statistical categories.

They're for scoring and defense and we're seeing that right here today with a two point game.

Last look right there by wristed inside to pick up the shot would go back or rather for the rebound and then knocked away you really got to protect the ball with then on the board anywhere around here he's sneaky he's like a gnat out there he's everywhere.

nice passing game.

How over the top they're going to be called on Bridget.

I do believe if you get open anywhere around the basket, Calrissian is going to find you.

Laura Ray drew a lot of attention right then after she got the ball.

Number 54.

Now on the free throws, you'll notice that the forecasters of the wheelchairs, the small wheels in front, are allowed to cross the free throw line.

What the refs look at is, look, there's a violation.

It's a large rear wheels touch the floor.

Saw ray numbers right there, five points a game.

Eighth grader Flint River Academy at the line right here, trying to make it a three pointer in and out of there.

Nearly got it.

That is such a long way off a ten foot hoop when you're sitting down, it's it takes a lot of strength to get the ball there.

The second goal and also in and out of there.

Tough break for Laura Ray right there all buddy al Cerrado former Georgia Tech.

And now to say a lot of what picks up right there trying to get it across the gap does so silver streaks beating west Georgia by one point earlier in the season with 4 seconds left in that game West Georgia though winning the rematch by double figures the Alaska all around.

So all these teams basically splitting the season series in the rubber match today for the state championship number 30.

Ben Wilkerson in the lineup for the cap high up in the backboard and boy they are a double team in Colorado and back here that picture he's stuck behind behind half court line for Roy trying to pick it up right there There's Daniel underneath knocking it away again.

40 seconds to go this time winding down here in period number two with off would try to slow up there.

So just in time get rid of it in a little block there by Laura Ray Daniels gets so much speed it's tough to bring that cheer to his home, especially when he's got the ball in his hand.

Great with it feeds Johnston got knocked away by McGlothlin.

I've been really impressed with Daniels defense here today, and this is under 10 seconds.

Time for one more shot for the silver states or within a bucket of tying it up, the pass taken away by Johnston with five winding down.

That'll do it for an action packed second period here at the Arena again at Center West Georgia, eight the Cavs six, a two point game and a good one brewing here in this wheelchair basketball championship.

We're back with period three in a moment to West Georgia.

Leads it by two over to cab.

Let's go courtside to Gerald Oliveira.

Gerald, Thanks a lot, Dave.

Now, you'll notice that the West Georgia Wolverines are wearing wristbands today, and that's because they suffered a great tragedy a couple of weeks ago.

One of their former players, April McPherson, and Coach McIntyre's niece, Lauren Ford, were killed in an automobile accident a couple of weeks ago on February 17th.

And they're wearing those wristbands to honor her memory.

She played with the Wolverines about three years ago.

And I spoke to Coach McIntire before the game, and he said that April was one of the most friendliest persons that he's ever met.

All right.

Thank you, Gerald Lesley, indeed, a very emotional afternoon here for the West Georgia team, and they're playing for more than a championship today, I'd say.

Yeah, they they suffered quite loss there with with losing April.

She not only was on the team for years, but after she graduated, she came back as team manager to help the practices and get all the home games, really an integral part of that team and the community.

The whole town was there for the funeral.

It was amazing.

Show of love for that family.

Well, best wishes and prayers to those folks.

And I believe they have taken their their black armbands off.

I don't know if the officials decided it might not be a good idea.

Somebody could get caught with an armed man, but they have taken them off for the ball game.

Let's let me ask you something.

Daniel McLaughlin looks like the only player that has wheelchairs that are that are not cantered on his chair now, does that add speed or is it just it takes it takes away speed.

He doesn't have the cantered wheels.

He he's in his everyday chair.

Some some athletes are just more comfortable in their everyday chairs than in a sports chair.

And for whatever reason, I guess he's one of those might give him a little tighter turning radius.

It makes it a little smaller, but it makes him it actually gives him a larger turning radius.

Believe it or not, it's more maneuverable to have a game on wheels and it creates space up by the hands.

Right.

Which is nice.

But he's so little and so quick and he takes that little chair and squeezes in lots of little spots.

Well, he certainly doesn't sweat Georgia.

He doesn't need any more speed, that's for sure.

Lesley-Ann Hutchins at the online right there, a little bit short on a pair to stay a two point game.

The cab, again had a64 lead after the first, but shut out in that second period.

West Georgia able to capitalize as they doubled their output and they lead it by 2 to 6 in six eight minute periods.

So the final period here before the half and then will play three more for the championship game though here today and a take away right there.

Dan, a little upset with himself on that last pass inside arrested had the open look good white finish it for the most part the Cavs did a nice job defensively hemming in rested but he has got some room here and it got out of bounds back the other way there as Timothy Peake tried to keep it in but just couldn't quite do it.

As I mentioned earlier in the broadcast, so many sixth, seventh and eighth graders on both of these ball clubs.

It's going to bode well for our game in the coming years.

These kids are just going to get better and better.

Yes, It's amazing that a lot of these younger players, Herb, can get hang with some of these older, more experienced players.

We're seeing a lot of those younger players not only play but also contribute.

I can't imagine competing against juniors and seniors in high school when I'm in the sixth and seventh grade.

How about that bucket right there by Timothy Peake off the top of the backboard.

That was a tough one.

He can win a lot of horse games with that shot, I guarantee you, because you see him scoop that ball up off the floor.

Watch this right here.

We one hear this right up off the floor.

They use that wheel to bring the ball right back up to him.

Yeah, that's that's one of the skills that they're taught to get the ball up off the floor, to use the chair to pull it up.

Shot by Andrew, just missing right there.

One of the neat things about having the older kids on the game with the younger kids is that they become mentors, you know, and teachers on the floor.

And it gives the younger kids.

CUOMO Somebody to look up to go back the other way.

Again, the silver streaks working right here, trailing by four.

They certainly don't want to let this get away from them here.

nice crossover.

Wow.

Great.

By the end of Andrew.

that was a sweet crossover into the lane there by Kenneth Andrew and averaging five points He's got four He's a great great little point guard Nice little move there indeed seemed to have a bit of an equipment problem I'm not sure what that is that's come off.

It's like a microphone.

It does look like a microphone.

We got our players miked here wired for sound today, maybe.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure This is a straight taking a look at the chair there.

That is what I believe it is.

It may very well be.

It looks like maybe one of the local stations doing a piece here today and something came undone.

I was trying to identify what part of the wheelchair that was and could do so.

So back to action right here again, peak working.

Had it taken away though, and picked up by Andrew.

I tell you what, Kenneth Andron and Daniel McLaughlin have been very busy today on both ends of the floor.

Pretty good backcourt trying to outrace Laura just to have good awareness of where each other out on the floor makes for a good combination.

Adrian Looking, looking and it works together.

Kenny Hit it.

He's not going to throw up a bad shot.

He's got find somebody so accurate through this third period still center 8a2 point game West a 5 to 2 gap of course with that last bucket a moment ago both within a possession and contact there with Miller Ray sail the sailor Pritchett got deep right there and out of bounds so you Pritchard does a good job down low catching that ball with one hand as well, operating with one hand.

But she catches it and gets it up there for a shot.

Yeah, she's.

She's a interesting young lady.

The way she pushes her chair, you'll see that she reaches across her body to pull the wheel on one side while she pushes on the other.

Now they can she can get a chair.

That's what they call a one arm drive where she wouldn't have to do that.

But she learned to play this way and provides it in games to cab.

Of course, beating Atlanta in the semifinals.

It was last year's Champs or the Wolfpack, unable to defend their title this year.

West Georgia, of course, lost the first two home games of the season by a point each, but since then have been near perfect gets said call Leslie Yeah that was a lane by when they were presenting the ball to the inbound or they had a player in the lane which is not leading up.

That must be unique to wheelchair game.

Now they can they can be in the lane after the the inbound or has the ball in their possession but when they're being presented the ball by the ref or not allowed to go out on their own offensively as played by Laura Roy to steal the ball couldn't get the shot go down as she drifted away from Pritchard right there.

She wanted to go, which is the first time the cat tried to tie this thing up.

As you see, Coach Miller look it on here, trying to rally his troops.

All right.

Hanging right with Daniel McLaughlin down the court, doing a little speed as well in the lane.

Good defense right there.

Hold those hands out to players in the face.

It's hard to get a shot off that way.

All of the harassing defense worked and blocking lost it out of bounds.

Credit Laura Rae.

They're showing that she's more than just a beauty queen here this afternoon.

She's showing she's quite a ballplayer.

A lot of good defensive plays here today.

Some young fans in the house right here cheering on the team's.

Also, I want to thank the Yakuza high cheerleaders who are showing their support for both teams today.

They have come out as they have over the last year or two and provided a little bit of crowd support.

There you see them right there just to be a tie dye shirts here today.

You might also want to remind the fans that haven't tuned in before, sometimes you'll see a player come out of his chair and then stand up and get back in the chair.

So people think that these kids are not ambulatory.

That's not always the case.

That's not always the case.

Most of these kids are ambulatory.

There are some that these the chair for everyday living, but not all of them.

And the sport was designed by veterans coming out of the war, was designed for folks who had disability in the lower body.

But it's evolved into including any kind of a physical disability.

But the chair is the great equalizer.

That's correct.

And they have, as a matter of fact, a unique found wheelchair ball called a physical advantage now.

And it's when you use your legs to an unfair advantage, like to raise your body up higher or kick on it.

Bell Which everybody can't do.

That's right.

So nobody gets to do it.

As a matter of fact, you file out on your third physical advantage balance is like a ten and side 20 seconds here in the first half silver streaks, trying to possibly tie it up here right before the break.

Again, West Georgia with that two point lead here at ten days time, they run out in this first half wrist and throw it up a long shot.

Wow.

That was a little bit closer than a lot of people might have thought right there.

Just to show that streak here in the first half.

And it's West Georgia with a two point lead at 10 to 8 and this year's wheelchair basketball championship.

Let's go courtside at Gerald Oliveira.

Gerald, Thanks a lot, Dave.

I'm here with Coach McIntyre.

How satisfied are you with that first half?

We're a little start, a little slow.

We have too many turnovers and we're just doesn't seem to be falling for us like we should have it.

We should be way farther ahead than this.

We're we're going to get more intense on the second half.

And what are you planning to tell your team at halftime?

I'm telling them to play like they know how to play and not get nervous about this.

All right.

Well, thanks.

Thanks a lot, Coach.

Back over to Dave.

All right.

All right.

Thank you, Gerald.

Coach McIntyre and all U.S. Army captain right there.

We'll take a timeout and be right back.

Halftime coming up from the arena.

Big one at center.

Good one brewing here, West Georgia, ten two Cav, eight at the break halftime here inside the arena, Gwinnett Center, West Georgia, ten to Cab eight and this year, wheelchair basketball champion in chip in there you get a look at the winning banner right there that will be presented to the winning team this afternoon.

Let's go ahead and go courtside to Gerald Oliveira, who's standing by with a special guest.

Thanks a lot, Dave.

That's right.

I'm here with Jeff Hoffman, CEO and chairman of the board of Aspen.

You recently took over as the chairman of the board.

What are some of your goals as you look forward into the future?

Well, at this point, we really need to just sort of grow our membership.

We need to get more families involved, need to get more schools involved.

We need to get more related agencies, sponsoring agencies.

We're looking for more sponsors, We're looking for more donors.

So it's about growth now and it's about expanding the base of resources for the organization that you've been involved with.

As for about three years or so, how did you get involved with the organization?

Well, first of all, I'm a huge believer in the relationship of sports to life.

I mean, you know, sports is a microcosm of life.

It teaches you to believe in yourself.

It teaches you teamwork I mean, they're just it teaches you dependability.

When you're on a team, you got to do your part.

There's so much that we learn from sports that that is important to everybody's life and everybody's development.

And when I found out through Aspen, in fact, I was involved and I was on the board of Evander Holyfield's Foundation, and we did some joint some joint programs with adapted sports.

And that's how I got to become on the board of adapted sports.

But, you know, through that sort of same experience, the relationship of sports to life, that that's an experience that Evander went through.

When I found out there was an organization based here in Georgia that was trying to make sure that that kids and students everywhere in the country got an opportunity to participate in sports.

There was no way I could not be involved in the relationship of Aspen.

Adaptive sports here in Georgia is also affecting some of the other states around us.

Could you talk about the influence that Georgia has had on some of the other states?

Absolutely.

As a matter of fact, I'm proud to be a Georgian.

Georgia has taken a big leadership role.

We've had phenomenal support from Representative Harbin, from from Speaker Richardson, from Representative Cohen is here with us today.

It's been fantastic the way the Georgia legislature has stepped up and the state of Georgia in general and said, you know, we want to support this effort.

And Georgia is setting the standard for the entire nation.

Here we are, in fact, taking these programs, these adapted sports programs all over the country, starting right here in Georgia.

And I'm proud to say that.

And about the experience of having these kids out here and actually being on GPB so people can see their sport and see what they do.

Well, that is support that we absolutely need and greatly appreciate.

I Think a lot of people have no view.

They don't really understand until you get a chance to see these kinds of games and actions.

When you get to come out here and see that these kids are playing on a team and competing in a game every bit the same as any other athlete would, they're just as excited about the game.

They practice just as hard as you've been seeing.

They work just as hard on the court.

This is a contact sport out here, but being able to get some visibility on that from GPB is is fantastic because that's how we grow our base is through awareness and we can't get awareness without your help.

Now I want someone want to find out more information about adaptive sports and ask, how would they do that?

Definitely our website.

As a matter of fact, one of the things that we're growing right now are Inception grants.

If there are schools that are watching this that don't have an adapted sports program and would like to add disabled sports to their to their school, we're giving Inception grants this year that enable them to get started.

It's basically a turnkey starter kit, including funding and all that's available on our website.

And well, sounds like a good plan and we appreciate you taking time out to talk with us.

That was Jeff Hoffman, CEO and chairman of the board for Aspen.

All right.

Thank you, Gerald.

Indeed.

I enjoy that right there.

Let's take a look back at some of the first half highlights.

And, Herb, there were certainly plenty of things to look at here, a lot of scoring, a lot of good defense.

So a lot of great highlights in this first half.

There you see Danny McGlothlin.

We call him the Fast and there's tension.

McLaughlin Draw that charge on Kyle wrist and we're trying to more offense here again.

Laura Wray Very active.

McGlothlin You see, of course, Timothy Keith with a little bit of a fast break right there in the shot off the glass.

And then a little bit later on, another breakaway right here throws it up off the top of the backboard and gets it to go.

Winslow added a lot of great shots there in the first half as you see the numbers right there.

Again, the score field four of 17 for to cap five of 23 for West Georgia.

They've shot the ball a little bit more there.

So the percentages are still pretty close over six from the free throw line.

I know that's one area that Coach McIntire would like to work on with this Wolverines right there, rebounding close to even turnovers.

Again, 12 for the cab there.

So they're going to have to cut down on that.

So both teams with things to work on here in the second half.

But bottom line, a two point game in anybody's game right now certainly is the assist are pretty even everything pretty even except the turnovers actually.

All right.

Let's go back courtside to Gerald Oliver is standing by once again.

Gerald, I'm here with Coach Miller.

What are some of the things you want to work on in that second half?

My goodness, we've got to put the ball in the basket.

You know, defense was a pretty tight game.

Just got to put the ball in the basket.

I've been saying it all season.

That's the only problem we have.

It's put the ball in the hoop.

Now, I know you did some scouting, you know, before the game, you know, how has that played out into your game plan so far?

They're doing it.

The transition game has kicked in and we just got to get back.

We got to get back and stop these layups.

That's basically all it is.

Okay.

Well, thanks a lot.

Good luck in the second half.

Back over to you.

They Gerald again.

Mark Miller, 18 years as a coach, neither coach really seems too happy right now, but still a good 12. game.

We are back with the fourth period and start of the second half when we return to the arena at Gwinnett Center.

Stay with us.

You know, it's been a two point game, much of the contest, and that's the score here as we get set for the second half.

Fans of West Georgia Wolverines fans are in the house.

They're making a lot of noise.

A good crowd on hand here at the Arena Gwinnett Center to watch this year's version of the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs Wheelchair basketball Championship.

They have Garner, Herb White with you.

Leslie Sweetman joining us once again, along with Gerald, all very courtside.

And we are underway here the second half of what's been a very action packed ballgame, got off to a blast right there to open it up for the cab who works on the other end floor.

Now, one off the glass for two and we are tied.

But Gerald in asked Coach at halftime what exactly he picked up by scouting.

But I guarantee you they've got somebody on Kyle Rust and wherever he goes on the court.

So that's the main thing they picked up watching this West Georgia team first.

It's been him in a little bit there in that first half.

But one thing that I really like about what Kyle is doing is he's letting the other players around him get involved.

He's not trying to do it all himself.

He's trying to get players like Ray and Eugene don't Wade.

Some of those guys into the game yesterday has done a good job, right?

That's Kyle number three.

Have you taken the ball out of bounds?

And I think his passing ability is his greatest asset for this Wolverine team.

As you mentioned, David, he makes everybody better.

He really is the team leader out there to see them together.

You know, he's he's always got some words of wisdom and some advice and he's always encouraging is never negative.

Dalton Lane, one of those guys or if you talk about a younger guy, a sixth grader at Mountain View Elementary is out there today.

There you get a look at Daniel McLaughlin, an eighth grader at Shamrock Middle School, is had a big first down.

And Rachael Ray is just staying with him wherever he goes.

And I guess a lot of guys wouldn't mind Rachael Ray being all over or Laura excuse me for most of the ball game, but for 26 and a half to play fourth period ball, going back the other way here is the voice.

Kristen as we talk about averaging six points a game and AB honor roll student for the most part and that's one thing we haven't talked a lot about is academic elite.

Most players on this floor basically a 3.03.5 and above.

Very good academics to go along with that athletics, they do have to maintain the grades in order to be on the team.

Nice pass by Ray inside and the rest of them in a short drive here lost the handle on it and out of bounds.

The Wolverines Kyle a little embarrassed He usually makes that one You know we're talking at half time Gerald was talking there and you know great that other states I guess are starting to follow the lead of Georgia and Alabama close to forming the same type of league.

I guess that in 2008, it's great to see Georgia really take the lead on.

It really is.

It's it's such a great program.

And when you get it out in front of people, it kind of sells itself well.

We certainly are proud to be a part of it at Georgia Public Broadcasting.

And get this out there on the air for people to see.

GPB has been really great to this organization.

And the way we have an opportunity to highlight some of these players is just great.

Well, as a native Georgian, I can take a lot of pride in what you guys do as well.

It's nice to see a team in the cab in their mile cannon.

You know, the cab ruled the roost for all those years and won the first championship the year that all the new teams were brought in.

And I don't believe we've been back to a basketball championship game and into a J.V.

basketball championship.

I guess they have J.V.

teams and that.

Yeah, trying to make it a clean sweep this year, I guess.

That's right.

Javi, you got somebody all alone at the other end.

Dalton Lane down waiting on it.

If they could get it to him.

He's so small they couldn't see him down there.

He was lost in the darkness.

Jump ball call at midcourt Possession era in favor of West Georgia's Wolverines.

Of course, in the white, the cab in the blue tied up at ten apiece.

Here and then they continue as clock in wheelchair basketball fourth period out of six here today, six eight minute periods.

That's Johnston down on the other end.

Douglas Johnson with four points today in the sixth And also it is Mountain View Elementary up on a pretty good offensive note first couple quarters.

But the defense is really tough.

And up here in the last two quarters, we have to find and get a shot to jam a little green violation there.

So back to the silver streaks.

If you look at Coach McIntyre right there, fifth season finish.

All right.

It's just a record.

The defensive player, when she first started playing, she did not handle the ball.

You could throw it to her and she does it.

So she's got to get out a little bit about Johnson today.

He's open Rookie of the Year, wheelchair soccer champion out of multiple sport athletes out there today that have been part of championship teams in other sports.

And it seems like in the last few years since we've covered this basketball championship, other opportunities have opened with sports like football and track and were talking about the of heat baseball and so forth and some of those other in sports at this point.

The first one he shot, if he'd gotten that pistol, Pete would have been proud of that.

No, look over the head.

Definitely want for the highlight reel if that would have gone in or Ray right here finds Pete ahead.

they're back to Wall Street because I kind of got caught watching back out there and a whistle and a foul on the Cavs.

It looks like a little blocking foul right there.

So the Wolverines take possession foul ball.

That one on Cherry High.

I might have been a third team foul on the silver screen.

It's not second rate Miller looking like beating Atlanta in the city finals to advance to today's championship Mr.

Trying to get it in Russell pressure there coming off of Lucas Johnson was just empty tied Richard Lucas had eight steals in the game earlier in the season he gets that one nothing a senior from Tucker high school yeah I'm sorry to you just don't blame and well that's you don't see that very often happens one's holding up of Kennedy Jr very good ball handler lost control on that one yeah he was tapping himself knew he had lost that one.

Here goes the basis for that right shot right there off the mark.

Pete kept it alive.

And you look at the turnovers to cap 14 West Georgia was six.

Here it is throwing that one out of bounds.

It will stay with the Wolverines going so far to cap not intimidated lasers we were talking about earlier.

A lot of times that team making their first appearance here in a few years as a little star struck.

But that's not the case with silver streaks.

They have had the lead after the first quarter, lost it momentarily and a tie back up.

Mr. would have done its job, post it to him.

But the race is on.

Pritchett came up with right Lucas loose ball so awfully quickly down the chase it and 20 seconds left in the fourth period he can try to break a tie ballgame 1010 shot off the mark wristed with the rebound will hold it up.

Keep it out of reach there trying to make a quick buck.

It happened right here down towards the lane and picked up though by Johnson puts it up at the buzzer off the front of the ice.

He got it to go but we will stay tied at the end of four periods.

A good one here at the Arena show.

My friend Jimmy is back in here inside the arena, got at center 10 to 10 heading into the fifth period.

The cab at West Georgia going at it, this year's Georgia wheelchair championship.

And we'd also like to welcome the cheerleaders from crucial high school.

Again, the split squad here had to see the names there.

Half of them cheering for West Georgia, the other half cheering for the cab, wearing the tie dye here.

And we certainly appreciate those young ladies being with us today.

Those are homemade T-shirts that we used to whip up in the sixties for a dead concert.

That's the high also part of the production here today as well.

And we welcome all the students inspiration from Crucial Hasn't got it right there.

They've got our Herb Wyatt, Leslie Sweat with you, Gerald.

All are very courtside with this afternoon for the wheelchair championship game and score a little bit down right now.

Leslie, I know it's a just ten points apiece here.

These teams, as you mentioned, when they were playing, playing some of the politicians there, you know, 42 points.

And so a little bit low scoring game here.

Credit that to some good defense.

But also one of those youth, one of those younger players, again, trying to take in this whole atmosphere.

You know, the score may be low, but the excitement level has this has been a lot of laughs.

This has absolutely seen a lot of great shots.

John.

Leslie, do the skills as far as handling the chair and the ball maybe come before putting the ball in the basket?

Actually, I mean, you have to get those skills down to get yourself in position to actually score the ball.

And as young as these kids are, maybe that that's been their main concentration so far.

Yeah.

The handle the chair and the ball is, is in some ways it's not is the harder skill to master.

But with the youth and the you know, they're not physically as strong as they will be when they get a little older.

It's not easy to shoot on a ten foot hoop when you are sitting down.

It's just not easy and hard right there for West Georgia.

All right.

He was double teamed in the lane and still managed to get the shot off over to a point two opponents and drew the foul.

And that got the crowd on their feet here inside the Gwinnett Arena.

Now, Ray, trying to complete the three point play, got a nice free throw.

She had two earlier that both of them went around and came out.

Let's see if she can convert here.

Eighth grader from Flint River Academy right here trying to make it a three point game.

That one off the mark there, offensive board.

Johnson couldn't quite make it go, but West Georgia climbs back in front by two great opportunities there for West Georgia to get up to four, which would be a huge lead.

This ball game right now as it is, just one basket there.

You look at coach Richard McIntyre Jr at all of Gary courtside with us.

Gerald, what's going on?

Hey.

Hey, thanks a lot, Dave.

I'm over here with Georgia State Representative Mike Cohen.

And right now the game is 10 to 12, but it wasn't that close when you played earlier this month, actually last month.

Just talk about what that was like.

Well, we get where you learned a lot about that in sports and how this works.

And we learned that they can really tear.

So they beat us 31 or two.

And it just brought a lot of good awareness to the program.

It's not that easy when you're sitting down trying to shoot a basketball.

No, it is not.

I made fun of my colleagues for getting flipped on their backs and I ended up there myself.

It was it was fun not only for, you know, kids in high school or any level of sports is very important at any point in a person's life.

Just talk about, you know, what you learn from that experience.

Well, what I can say, it brought awareness to it.

I think a lot of folks, they get caught up in the regular run of the mill activities.

And then when you come out here and see this and participate in it, it's like today it became very personal to me.

I met some of the guys I played against, girls I played with and just see in my hair and excitement in the face.

It makes it it brings it real close and personal.

It gave me and well, you know, people might have not have got a chance to see that, but we're going to have that on prep sports.

Plus, let's let you know next week's we have some highlights of that game.

But just back into this, outside of the awareness, what else has come out of the involvement with ASP or helping to expand the program in Gwinnett County?

We've got no sports teams here and we've got a lot of young people that could be doing this and not getting that opportunity.

So we're going to start meeting with those people in charge and try to get some of them started here in Gwinnett.

Okay.

Well, thanks a lot for your time, Mike Cohen.

Appreciate your efforts here and all the that you do for ASP.

Yes, sir.

Back over to you, Dave.

All right.

Thank you, Jerald.

Representative, go and spend some time with us here.

We certainly appreciate him stopping by there.

And he's a guy that firsthand saw what it's like to play wheelchair basketball.

You see Richard Lucas right there.

He took a little bit of a tumble, but he appears to be okay in good hands from the crowd that tangled up in his chair took a really hard fall a moment ago.

Part of the difficulty there is that, Richard, because of the level of his injury on a spinal cord, doesn't have good track musculature.

So it's all arm I mean, when he climbs back up in that chair, he's not getting any help from abdominals his back or his legs.

Well, he wasn't getting much help from anybody.

They wanted him do it himself.

Well, that tends to be the case.

He came out, he'd get back in.

Yeah.

And Richard from Tucker High School.

And they'll be playing in the 40 boys championship game tonight.

I'm sure Richard to be around for that with my old buddy Coach James Harter at the head there.

Yeah.

One of the rare times the clock will indeed stop as it did there momentarily.

You run the clock for the most part, except a long time.

And inside number 17, Douglas Johnson up another bucket three and he starts another three.

So a 14 to 10 right here.

Again, the largest lead of the game for either team.

That tells you what kind of game it's been.

That's Georgia with a four point lead right here, trying to put a little daylight between themselves and the crowd.

And here's a shot from outside from Kenneth and run with Risdon over him behind the head and had to get it way back to get it over Kyle Risdon And he did nothing but net.

So the Wolverines thought they had a little daylight and then the cab with the bucket right there brings it back to two.

Hang on brother and sister, we got a good one brewing here this evening Dad.

This morning.

Well as we talked about, you know, these two teams played earlier in the season and it was a one point game.

DeKalb winning by one point with 4 seconds left.

So we might be headed that way again, this time for a championship.

Wouldn't that be something that we can have a look at That last one here, That one from way out there in the rotation on that one.

Boy and run with six points today.

That's a team high.

He matches Douglas Johnston's total of six for West Georgia.

Timothy Peake can't quite handle the rebound back the other way Get the ball both teams at four and two coming in get asked the country's first interscholastic governing body for students with physical or visual impairment and talk about others like Alabama trying to join it.

And of course, a lot of local folks talk to the representative there.

As you mentioned, Gwinnett County, a lot of different local areas still to cover in Georgia, a lot of folks to get on board here.

But it is ever growing and becoming very powerful.

And it's great to see John Mark fall back the other way.

And I'll tell you what is this game stays closed.

Tickets later, that crowd gets more and more into it, making a lot of noise here.

It seems with every trip up the floor, every trip is going to be big from now on.

We got 11 minutes and 12 seconds to play in this ball game.

A great peak with it.

A junior at Roosevelt Institute, Laura Ray, the eighth grader inside, gets off a shot.

A little short, though, with McLaughlin in her face.

She outraced McLaughlin for that one.

That's pretty impressive.

Troy Hunt, good luck Inside Off the Glass.

Johnson Unable to hit the shot.

They pretty much match Don Trey hot up against Kyle Risdon here in this ballgame.

And he's basically just going man to man with him every step of the way that we really need to get player on the floor.

He's got a chance at matching his height.

I saw Coach Miller, his team trailing by two here with the basketball two and a half to play in his fifth period as Lauri and there to break it up again Nice flip pass there from Kyle Risdon.

He tried to put up a shot Anderson there though to play defense shot nearly there.

The foul by Hutchins wouldn't quite go and that one is up and in that Douglas Johnston with points seven and eight today is a game high score and it's a 1612 game back to a four point lead for West Georgia And take another look at that last sequence.

And meanwhile, Laura steals another pass, but the streak gets it back and then they really need a bucket down here before the end of this quarter for Austin the give shot Justin couple opportunities here to go follow his own rebounds there keeps it alive down a triple team and I'm somebody who's got to be open somewhere if he can find him under the hoop behind the head.

Right Look right there.

yeah they follow too strong by Teague Johnston now puts up a shot and he gets it to go Johnson really nice soft touch gets a lot of spin on the ball.

It hits the rim, it dies and falls in the bucket and gets a six point game.

Now silver streaks got to get it going and Johnston in double figures with ten points here as West Georgia widens the gap for a little bit towards the end of this fifth period in.

So no matter what happens here, the silver streaks will have their work cut out for him a little bit in that sixth and final quarter here at the arena, when that Center Johnson really surpassed his average on average of 4.75, coming in with ten today.

The Cavaliers get good shots.

I have to say, if that was a pass or a shot, I thought they might hold for one shot.

Their Johnson ahead to Gray right here faster peek a little bit behind him otherwise he might have had an open look there and looks like the ball will stay with west Georgia so MacIntyre going to get a timeout with 8.1 try to set up something to get that eight point lead before the end of the fifth quarter, but you don't see a whole lot of time outs.

But indeed, as you mentioned, Herb, Coach thinking about trying to get something started here with 8 seconds left.

And as you see some of the players here, some last seconds instructions here at the end of this fifth period.

So don't miss our live broadcast of the Geico 25th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Parade Sunday, March 18th at 3 p.m..

Colorful floats, military units, marching bands and much, much more.

Take a seat with us on Cherry Street in beautiful downtown Macon.

Sunday, March 18th at 3 p.m. right here on GPB.

And certainly looking forward to that right there.

Always a beautiful festival there.

Hopefully we'll have some good weather for as well.

Should be a lot of fun.

First year for public broadcasting.

You cover that.

Always beautiful down there in Macon this time of year with those cherry trees blooming rose.

High School basketball also playing out over the weekend and making a split venues arena here in Gwinnett sitting in Macon center for its championship weekend GPB We've got some great teams and some great individual talent going to be coming up on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

And we saw yesterday and also this evening there you can look at Johnston's career day to day here.

So far, ten points, eight rebounds.

Just a sixth grader, as we talked about, one of those younger guys that stepping up, contributing.

And he has really been the difference maker today for West Georgia.

The silver streaks got to turn up the defense and they it was a hole right there.

Well, he's got another opportunity, although that shot falls short and the silver streaks will hold it for the final seconds and that will do it.

So through five periods here at the Arena, Gwinnett Center, it's West Georgia, 18 to cap 12 the silver streaks with their work cut out for him as we hit the sixth and final period.

When we return to So here we go, the DeKalb silver streaks with the game on the line here trailing by six here.

They've got their work cut out for them as we open up the sixth and final quarter of play from the arena.

And when at center they have gone are Herb White, Leslie Swetnam with you along with Gerald, all very courtside with us today.

Again, West Georgia Wolverines in the cab, silver streaks in this year's Georgia wheelchair basketball championship.

Coach MacIntyre taking nothing for granted there.

At the end of the fifth period.

He was really animated in the huddle over there and not going to let his guys let up in this quarter.

They're still fighting right here.

Again, Leslie and Hutchens, that last shot off the mark there, Hutchins, a seventh grader.

And they better not let up.

If they do, this team is going to jump back out, I'm afraid to say.

They certainly have the firepower to come back.

They've got the speed you have to look at the Bulldogs, which MacIntyre strength, a lot of enthusiasm even after a long, long time coach in this ballgame.

He's still into it.

You look at Laura Wray right there with a couple of points today, Adrian trying to set that move and pick which is legal and wheelchair basketball.

Loflin working it right here, puts up the shot a little too strong off the glass there, assisted with the rebound.

Well, Shayla Pritchard, as we talked about, a lot of different players out here, have been with the program a long time, nine and a half years with adapted sports on a roll at Cedar Grove High School of a 15 for the Cavs and Douglas Johnson, just a sixth grader, scoring some points here today.

And he's a he's a big guy for a sixth grader.

He's going to be a pretty good score before he's done around that basket.

He's tough to handle as that shot blocked by McGlothlin put up by the center to go against Johnston on west Georgia.

It's great that's the team First of all, it's going to be up to McLaughlin and Adrian to get the ball down and get something going for this DeKalb team, see if they can get back in the ballgame.

6 minutes left.

That shot might have been partially blocked right there.

I'm not sure I missed it.

May have got a fingertip on it.

And inbound there again, you're going to see the silver streaks, I would imagine, apply a little bit more backcourt pressure right here, although they do back off of it a little bit.

Richard Lucas come up with some of those steals like he has in some other ball games.

Get back in this three and one.

Count it for Timothy Peake set up by a great bounce pass from Laura.

It's going to get a free throw to go along with it, which means he could get six points here today.

As we talked about the state champion last year with the Atlanta Wolfpack.

One more.

You see that shot right there, A good looking shot.

The foul on McLaughlin.

One shot.

look at Pique's numbers, six points today.

Missed on the free throw right there.

But West Georgia out now to an eight point advantage at 20 to 12.

Last year's game was an 1816 game played right here at the arena when at center so West Georgia again putting up some points here especially in the second half.

Again, it was just a two point game at the break, ten eight in favor of West Georgia as the cap came back to tie it up at 1010.

Since then, though, it's basically been all Wolverines anymore.

BLOCK And trying to get it all on his own.

Now he can beat people down the floor and get a shot, but they're double teaming.

And whenever he gets down on the offensive end, JOHNSTON inside to Ray open look right here for Laura and a foul look like we nearly had another chance for three play There is that ball bounced away but Ray will be at the line It does look like shooting to go.

I dare you to look out Daniel McLaughlin for that.

Very busy today to tell you that going the series now on Android TV.

Ray, you don't know how many miles he's covered in his chair today, but if he had a odometer on there, I'd like to check it.

He has been all over and in a hurry and Ray knocks down the free throw.

She has flirted with that all day long there.

Her byline got one to go.

I guess that'd be a pedometer.

One.

Yeah.

Distance.

Excuse me, but his RPMs are turned up as well.

Ray.

One of two.

Nearly two for two on spot.

And you're right.

Leslie's got to take an enormous amount of body, upper body strength and able to shoot the free throws like that, especially after you use your arms to push yourself up and down the quarter.

Right.

For 40 minutes.

Yo, yo, yo.

What's on in trouble right here as defense by Ray.

And right now, nice work there inside hut to strong taken down by he ripped away though service streaks with another shot just off the mark for 20 left in the contest West Georgia 2112 give it to Ray Hey hey Life taken away by Ray right there Andrew and had it momentarily Now pick up with it in the corner Puts up a long shot just off the mark under 4 minutes.

that's Kyle's shot.

That's the one he works on before the ballgame.

He gets in that corner on the baseline.

He likes it.

Daniel on the move once again here.

big block there by Ristic.

Big ball rolling.

Now try to chase it down.

It will go out of bounds on the Wolverines.

I think one thing a game we can't forget about certainly not to make an for the car but the service breaks without their leading scorer today and Chastity Morton and they're missing her eight points a game right now she might be the difference in this game maybe be in a two point game retired right now or even to have in the league.

It's unfortunate she wasn't able to play here today the speedsters and Daniel and Kenneth get it up and down the court and normally when Shayla and Chastity are who they dump to and they score quite a few of the points, so it's definitely her husband to not have her here.

I know she would rather be here.

So we hope for a speedy recovery for her and we'll look forward to seeing her down the road, maybe in the championship game next year, more than a sophomore here at the time.

So she'll have a couple more years and need that one in there.

The 32, Richard Lucas with his first bucket of the day.

He's not quite over yet.

They've come up with a couple more steals.

Now.

The look at it right here didn't even need the glass on that one and was excited about it afterwards.

Shot a little too strong there after a steal and out of bounds.

So it will be Wolverine basketball but time starting to run out here a little bit.

A seven point game.

The Cavs going to have to find some offense in a hurry.

MacIntyre Going to get a timeout and talk about it.

Silver streaks, giving them a lot of problems down here, trying to get the ball inbounds, catch Mark Miller's team, trying to rally right here.

That's McIntyre's team trying to hang on with 221 left in the contest.

But we hope that you are enjoying our broadcast of this year's GHC state basketball championships and of course, this year's Georgia Wheelchair championship.

You could show your appreciation support by becoming a member of GPB.

It's easy and totally secure.

Log on to our website at WW dot GPB dot org and thanks for high school sports on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

We do urge you to become a member first.

We will have opportunities throughout the rest of the weekend for you to do that and take advantage of some thank you gifts and so forth.

And we'll talk more about that later on as well.

But again, we urge everyone to become a member.

Herb, I know you've been very involved.

You're a familiar face that a lot of fans of GPB recognize and trying to say, I've been around for a long, long time now.

I would say that now, but but it's always great to see folks get that membership there and be a part of really everyone's local hometown station, no matter what community you're in.

That's what GPB is all about that is what we're all about.

And every dollar that goes that we use for high school sports comes from our members or our corporate supporters.

So we don't get any money from the state to do these ballgames.

It all comes from our members and corporate underwriters, and we could certainly use a lot more help.

So after the timeout right here again, 220 laughs and looks like a deal on the line right there.

A peek really at our very own Herb White having to go under the table to retrieve that one right there First loose ball I've come up with in a while and now down to 2 minutes, again, that continuous clock and back to West Georgia, down on the wall offline right there on the line, another turnover, tough break for the silver streaks.

Well, another thing you like to point out, these kids, while they're very, very competitive, I can guarantee you, you can see the way they have some of the collisions and the chairs, but a lot of camaraderie among the players and athletes out here.

Leslie, it's a great thing to see.

They play hard against each other, but a lot of smiles and a lot of a lot of pats on the back, these kids on both teams.

Yeah.

You know, they've known each other, competed against each other for a number of years.

And they they do form friendships even with players on the team Team.

Yeah.

You can tell there's a lot of mutual respect and it's a great thing to see.

And we've seen a few.

They've been all business, but we've seen a few smiles out there today.

A little talking going on there when as the time wound down, you might see a little frustration, too.

And that's just part of that competitive nature.

And again, if often that would look like it might have slipped out of his palm there a little bit as he got rid of it.

He got one minute left in last Georgia.

Again, last year's state runner up trying to make that seven point lead stick right here.

And it looks like it will again, the Wolverines looking for that state championship hard fought game by both sides.

It was a two point game, most of the way until West Georgia pulled away here late 35 seconds left on the clock will stop there as Kenneth Andron works his way back up.

Danielle McLaughlin coming up with another steal.

He's playing it out to the buzzer.

You can bet on that.

A lot of toughness, as you guys have said.

We've seen a lot of collisions here, a lot of toughness by these players here.

Players Here today.

There's no quit in that young man.

The 16 more real on the ground here, amazing upper body strength popped right back up into that chair.

The time winding down right here.

Final seconds.

But I'll tell you what, West Georgia's still playing some defense out there, still getting after it.

5 seconds left, shot, put up, nearly went in.

He wanted that one frantic with the final rebound in that low.

Do it crowd hits their feet.

Both teams here today as the West Georgia Wolverines capture the 2007 Georgia wheelchair championship of what a hand for both teams here today.

If you're the two caps over streaks, you got to keep your head up.

A great job, indeed.

But this year's championship belongs to West Georgia as close it out by a final of 21 to 14.

Let's throw it down to Gerald Oliveira.

Gerald, thanks a lot.

David Hayward, Coach McIntire, winning coach, what a great win for your team.

yeah, it's great it's great.

It was.

It was.

Yeah.

It's been time coming.

We I've, I knew this team had it in them they just had to dig deep and bring it all out.

And this second half that, that fifth period was the one where we really came alive and they just played like I knew they were aware of everything and they were just it was just great to stand over here and see how much they can do.

Well, congratulations, Coach.

Go enjoy this victory.

Back over to you, Dave did a great job right there.

And I tell you what, that's going to wrap things up again, West Georgia winner here today over to camp.

And it has certainly been fun for our entire crew, for Oliver, for Herb White and for Leslie Sweat.

Man.

I'm Dave Gardner.

Saying, So long, everybody.

It's been fun.

The 2007 Georgia wheelchair basketball championship belongs to the West Georgia Wolverines here in seven at the Arena Gwinnett Center.

So long, everybody, for the American Association.

Funding for today's broadcast of the American Association of Adaptive Sports Program 2007 Georgia Wheelchair Championship has been possible in part by lobby and SAT attorneys at law the Plumbers and Pipefitters.

Local union number 72 and by the National Franchisee Association and.