Georgia Public Broadcasting presents the 2008 AAASP Wheelchair Basketball Championship.

Funding for this broadcast is made possible by Slappy and attorneys at law and the Plumbers and Pipefitters.

Local union number 72 Less than the arena at that center is the 2008 state wheelchair basketball championship.

Today it's the foreign to Atlanta wolfpack taking on the six no the Cavs silver streaks.

Hello, everyone, and welcome.

I'm Dave Gardner alongside Leslie Sweat.

And as we get set to rock and roll and Leslie, good to be working with you again.

You're an old pro at this by now.

well, not exactly, but thanks for the encouragement.

Excited to be here.

There you go.

Let's talk a little bit about today's matchup.

Let's let's start with the Atlanta Wolfpack, a team that won the championship back in 2006.

They hope to make it two here in the last three years.

Yeah, they're they're a great team.

They've got some good leadership there.

They've got a couple older players.

They're big man in the center.

Rafael Rodriguez is is a force to be reckoned with.

They're going to look at Rodriguez averaging 20.1 points a game.

You can't say enough about the career that young man has had.

Yes, absolutely He is.

He has been their leader for a number of years and is a tremendous young man to to to be around and work with.

They're going to look at the starting five today for the Wolfpack.

Rodriguez, Griggs, Rafael Rodriguez, Reece Johnson, Dominique Tompkins and Emmanuel McFarland.

Some names that have stood out over the last few years.

They've been with this program for quite some time.

All right, Leslie, let's turn the tables and talk a little bit about the decaf silver streak, formerly the decaf red hot rollers.

And boy, have they been red hot this year.

They have been.

And they are going to be red hot today, too.

This is one of the fastest teams for especially considering their age.

They're so young, but there's a lot of speed out there.

They're going to be fun to watch today and they're going to look at the player to watch today.

Kenneth Anderson averaging 12 points a game.

He's also been another guy to watch over the years, wearing number 25 here today.

And he is certainly going to need a big game for the silver streaks.

Absolutely.

I believe that he'll deliver for him, too.

Today.

They're going to look at the starting five for the silver streaks.

Jamal Evans, Daniel McLaughlin, Kenneth Andrew and DeAndre Hunt and Shasta Morton, the starting five today for DeKalb.

And we certainly look forward to seeing all those folks on board with us today.

Let's go ahead, throw it down to the three announcer Dr. David Witherow of Murray County High School.

Students things right now.

That's a start for law and order with Deputy DA 21.

Nobody.

okay.

And number three, Reese Johnson, they all get really that number.

I think the car and number Terry station have an artwork please.

Now let's think about starting a car wash by Kevin Anderson and Gar River 31 and 439 Go straight on and for 12 minutes and start again.

GA 33 Chesterfield 48 left Thomas and she's going to get 11 And then I can we can do this now.

So there you have it.

The stage is set coming up.

It's the tip off is the Atlanta Wolfpack and the Cavs.

Silver streaks battle for this year's state wheelchair basketball championship.

When we return, Career coming soon to Georgia Public Broadcasting, broadcast of the AFC Georgia Wheelchair Championship is made possible by sloppy and sad attorneys at law serving and protecting the interests of individuals and families In Atlanta and all of Georgia since 1992.

And proud to support the wheelchair Championship basketball game.

Plumbers, Pipefitters and Service Technicians.

Local Union 72 is proud to support the AFC Championship wheelchair basketball game.

We're also proud to be a part of Atlanta's progress for more than 100 years.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station, and now broadcasting in digital in the Atlanta area.

We're back here at the Arena Gwinnett Center.

Let's meet the other member of our broadcast team today, Gerald Oliveira, is courtside.

Gerald and Vision cheering.

Today is a special moment for all the players, but for one particular player, it's an extra special moment.

And that would be Chastity Morton from DeKalb.

Last year in the championship game, she was injured the morning of the game and had to sit by and watch idly as our team lost to the west Georgia Wolverines.

Well, this year she's back, She's excited and she's ready to come out here and play.

She's one of their go to players.

So they've look for her to have an outstanding game today here at Center court, Raphael Rodriguez winning the tip for the Atlanta Wolfpack alongside DeAndre Hunt.

And ball out of bounds, though, and back the other way right there.

Of course, we welcome you once again to our broadcast right here on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Year number five for the wheelchair basketball championships right here on GPB.

And we're glad to have you.

It's such an outstanding opportunity to showcase the abilities of these young athletes.

And yeah, it's really exciting for them to get to play in a big arena like this.

Atlanta with the basketball averaging right around 21 points a game this year, defensively only giving up about 14.

If you see Rodriguez right here, two pushes and dribble is basically the way it goes.

And in a lot of respects it's just like what we see and our able bodied basketball with the as far as the dribbling and the foul situation and so forth, a lot of the same rules apply.

Yeah, sometimes you'll you'll see a traveling violation call and you'll wonder why.

And it's because the athlete did some other kind of motion before they did those two pushes that was counted as a push.

Stephanie Morton Battling with the basketball there.

Just a moment ago.

Morton With the basketball feet it inside.

Andrew with a baseline shot connects Kenneth Andrew with the first two points of the ballgame a little bit of backcourt pressure right here.

Once again, you see Reece Johnson with the basketball trying to maneuver his way across midcourt, no whistle.

Looks like we got a little back pick action going here, too.

They're going to try to tie up Rafael Rodriguez early and frustrate them way more.

Here's a look right here at the last score to see more pushing.

Nice feed right there to Andrew, who had the open look and knocked it down.

They're going to look at Emmanuel, the senior from South Side High School, averaging a couple points a game this season.

McFarland throwing up the left hander and just off the side of the rim It might.

It's amazing how far away you are from that goal when you're sitting down on a ten foot hoop.

It takes a lot of strength to get the ball there, A lot of strength and a lot of skill indeed, he was a came up empty right there.

You usually don't see a lot of free throws.

Take it.

Especially early in the game.

It doesn't seem like.

No, no, you don't.

The unless the shooter is fouled in the act of shooting, that's the only time before bonus that you're going to see that and it's probably a good thing because it it it's such a difficult shot to make.

It's not that it's not really free and wheelchair ball so DeAndre Hunter trying to climb back into a chair there that was the reason for the stoppage of play in case folks are joining us for the a first year of course repeat on the air five years I believe the 12th year for the wheelchair basketball championship and for six, eight minute periods.

But I continuous clocks.

Things move fast even though you have a couple of extra periods.

Yeah it does.

It's it's it's a lot of time you know it's 48 minutes but with that moving clock it it goes along pretty well.

Morton Again on the move Cassidy, a junior from Heritage High School.

Be oldest player basically on the Silver Streak roster and there's not a senior on the floor for this to captain No no there's not a very young team that's one thing we're talking about Leslie up top it's amazing that the cab has been able to put together an undefeated season like they have with their oldest player as a junior, everybody else a sophomore, than they have some middle school players as well.

Meanwhile, Atlanta with a little bit more experience, but possibly the underdog here today.

Yeah, they're this little two cab team is and I say little because in stature they're rather small, too.

They're not only young, but they they're a lot of fun to watch.

They're very aggressive, They're very quick.

And they have no fear.

None.

You know, they say that a lot of times with the younger players, they don't know any better, you know, than to be scared that sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

That's right.

It's the older players who come into an environment like this for the first time, although both these teams have been in the big game.

But, you know, you come into this atmosphere, the depth perception is a lot different and being in a big building like this.

But these guys don't seem too rattled so far.

Shot by McFarlane was a little bit short on that last trip for the Atlanta Wolfpack.

This got a little too strong.

Jeff LeBeau by DeAndre Hunt and a whistle inside while we'll go back to the silver streaks right there and out of bounds there's a shot by Andre and got the roll right there Kenneth Anderson with two buckets here.

The score is now for nothing to cap.

Yeah, If they give Kenneth that open look every time he's I'm afraid he's going to hurt them.

You see the roll right near the shooter's touch and then a steal back on the other end there.

And a whistle and a foul.

It looks like it's not going to be cold on Atlanta.

It does appear.

I don't believe he was set for a four.

That contact was made.

So that's going to be against the defense and 3013 foul that one on Rodriguez Griggs averaging 7.1 points a game this year The sophomore got called to the foul and we've got a time out on the floor right here with 309 left in this opening period from the arena at Gwinnett Center.

It's viewers like you that help make great local programs like these high school or simply call one of the numbers on your screen or visit our website at W WW dot chipboard backslash support and thank you for supporting Georgia public broadcasting for its championship weekend right here on GPB and of course the state wheelchair basketball championships right there in the mix as well.

And again, we were just talking about how it's been a great partnership to see this game as part of the Georgia High School Association weekend.

It has Georgia High School, the Association, the alliance that they formed with Aspas is really something that's just not seen around the country.

And it's it's a tremendous asset for Aspen for these athletes to to have GHC recognize their athletic efforts and the importance of what they're doing out there.

Well, so far it's been the Kenneth Andron Show for points here.

And if you're Atlanta now and your coach only lost, then you got to be thinking about when to get the little offense right here that had a few open looks.

They just happened able to get them to go, Yeah, they need to get their big guys inside down there and get some easy shots and gain a little confidence and shake the nerves.

They're going to look at Coach Lawson right their ninth season with the Wolfpack has been in the game here before.

As you see, you're certainly no stranger to this atmosphere here today.

Of course, as we mentioned, Atlanta won it back in 2006.

Last year, DeKalb was in this game but fell to the west, Georgia Wolverines, 2517.

But right back here again, trying to make it happen this year with the other in little by little.

Yeah, I wasn't sure what that was.

A there's a rule in wheelchair ball that when the ball is being presented to the inbound or none of their teammates can be in the lane once they have the ball, their teammates can enter the lane.

The Wolfpack will try to inbound it.

Now.

Raphael Rodriguez throwing ahead right here to Reece Johnson All Evans with the defense right here a little one on one battle trying to get it across here and Emmanuel McFarland gets it crossed the sideline just in time but the a pass is thrown away there and taken away by Morton.

Nice job chasing that ball down.

I thought that was going to get away from him again.

You know who pushes the dribble right there.

A little contact.

Looks like they're going to call McFarland right here.

Yeah.

The rule on that is that Morton had the front end of her wheelchair in front of the defender.

And so the contact is illegal by the defender.

The 31 Daniel McLaughlin, the freshman in the game right here dribbling in to put up the shot right here and off the back of the iron.

The follow by Morton one go and the rebound by the Wolfpack Reece Johnson once again clearing that ball out for Atlanta in the gold here today the cab in the way Atlanta's got to work on their transition offense here they're they're being hung up pretty quickly by the cab pass ahead Rodriguez not looking for it right there and nice job defensively so far by DeAndre Hunter.

Those guys pretty much pairing up against each other here in the early going, it looks like.

And here's an open look down the lane by Andrew just feet and get the shot to go That's a tough shot with your momentum going forward.

Well better job on the transition here by Atlanta this trip.

Johnson the junior from Douglas High School averaging 13 points a game with the basketball right now trying to get rid of it cross-court good looking pass a little too tall inside though and out of bounds.

It will go back to the silver streaks.

Rodriguez was in a great spot if he could held onto that pass that would have been very difficult to defend with his height.

You look at Andre, and one thing that we do want to mention too, is that a lot of these athletes that we're seeing here today are also getting it done in the classroom.

Andrew is another guy.

You know, we talked about him up top, a 3.1 GPA, student council vice president at Chamblee Middle School, seventh grade president.

So a lot of these people that we're going to talk about here today very standout, not only athletes, but also students as well.

Yeah, that's that's absolutely true.

The you know, the workload that some of these guys has is just like any other able bodied athlete that you see out there and the you know, to keep up with the practices and the school work and the extracurricular activities, it's a lot.

The final seconds tick off the clock here, this opening period and the score after one, it's the silver streaks of the cap county for the Atlanta Wolfpack.

Nothing.

Music legend Petula Clark hosts an all star reunion from the bands that made the British beat town.

All the scenes.

The Wild Thing Friday at ten on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

This broadcast of the AARP Georgia Wheelchair Championship is made possible by interested in a rewarding career instead of a job lovers and pipefitters and service technicians.

Local 72 offers training for careers that provide opportunities for professional advancement and lifetime security.

It's your future, and it all starts here.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station and now broadcasting in digital in the Atlanta area.

From the cab up for nothing after one over the Atlanta Wolfpack.

As we bring you back to the Arena, Gwinnett Center, Dave Garner, Leslie Sweat and Cynthia, Joe, all dollar very courtside with us today at first quarter for the cab and I can't off that he's up some real nice open looks and he's nailed them for 31 McLaughlin with the basketball right there they can look at Morton that shot nearly had a chance for a three point opportunity right there.

It's like Morton will go to the line though.

The second one on Briggs for this team.

Leslie for the Cavs.

A little more, though, than just Kenneth Andrew.

And when you look at the totals this year, McLaughlin, a freshman from Druid Hills, averaging eight points a game, DeAndre Hunt Almost nine points a game.

And of course, that young lady right there averaging seven.

So it's a really been an overall combined effort this year by the of the cab a silver streak total lane violation violation was on the side Yeah the those guys cannot have their front casters over the over the line like the shooter can do them one battling for rebounding position inside.

You got to like that though you know the aggressive play there she was trying a little rolling shot there If she can get that shot off before her rear wheels touch the line, it's still good.

It gives her a little you can it gives her a little extra strength because there's no legs to push off of.

It's all fact set to inbound it right here.

Get it into Emmanuel McFarland.

Rodriquez breaks number four with the basketball.

Of course, we also want to recognize the junior varsity at State Chance.

They're going to look at the Henry County Hurricanes champs this year, the jayvee champions.

They defeated the Northport YMCA Mustangs in the championship game and certainly want to recognize those guys here as well.

It's actually yeah, they've actually had the camera on the wrong group, though.

Unfortunately, they were showing what I believe was probably the power soccer team, the Henry County team or Emmanuel chairs, and they're just to the right of the cheerleaders in green.

From our vantage point, they're the new JV team, a brand new team, first first year playing, and they managed to make it to the championship.

There we go.

There they are.

You see, Coach Harlan MATTHEWS is their head coach.

And some of the players, this team was able to be formed because of some some grant money that was available for beginning teams through the Georgia Dome.

They do have an alliance with ASP in order to help programs around the state be able to or counties around the state be able to form a new programs and new teams.

And what a success story they've been through that initiative and I want to talk about that as well.

I mean, what a partnership right here.

You know, it seems like over the years, just the exposure of this game.

And of course, it's just one of six sports that Right.

Offers.

But what a partnership it's been to really bring everybody together.

Absolutely.

It speaks volumes for the way that ASP has set up their programing to be offered through the school systems.

That really is, we believe, the way to reach the most numbers of kids and give them the kind of opportunity that they're able bodied friends and classmates have had for years through GHC right now.

Emmanuel McFarland set to inbound right here for the Wolfpack into the hands of Rodriguez, who has been a fairly quiet here so far in the early going.

But part of that reason because of DeAndre Hunter, the eighth grader there from Shamrock Middle School, playing some good defense right here, although he did pick up the foul right there.

Rebound.

Yeah they're they're not they're not afraid you know to get in front of Rafael you're you're you're pretty brave so absolutely absolutely.

Well you know in another part two of this game, you know, we talk about the fouls and the sort of clarify things, too.

I guess that the chair is considered part of the body.

Absolutely.

That's right.

The cheer is, you know, it's your legs, basically.

So a contact on the chair is, in fact, a foul.

Every once in a while you'll see somebody take a little tumble out there as well, you know?

Yeah.

Not uncommon for that to happen.

It's not it's not you would think that it would be really stable.

But when you're moving as quickly as they're moving, one little bump is really all it takes and somebody will come out of their chair.

You'll notice that they will not the referees will not stop the action of the game just because somebody is falling out of their chair, unless, of course, they're in harm's way.

Right.

And or in trying to get away from Terry Chambers right here.

Chambers number 13, playing some defense right here, trying to go one on one right here and from was able to dribble away, but still no shot and both of these teams this year putting up 52 points in a game here.

Atlanta, of course, scored 52 against Clayton back on February 9th.

And of course, the Cavs scored 52 points against the original dream team back on February 16th.

So both these teams have certainly put up a lot of points.

So they they really can the the you're not going to see probably quite that high score in this game simply because they're so well matched.

There's a little stronger defense than some of these teams could put up against the speed and and size and strength of either of these teams.

Johnson faked the pass right there, Put the shot up through the a blocking call.

And we talked about Atlanta averaging 21 points a game this to cap you know on paper as we talked about the Cavs had the upper hand they won 44 to 6 over the same Wolfpack team earlier in the season.

But again, that was without a couple of key players.

And, you know, Royce Johnson, Rafael Rodriguez, I guess those guys were out.

So really don't have an accurate assessment of how these two really, really you know, matched up until today and.

RODRIGUEZ Yeah, that's that what that is what Atlanta wants to see a lot of their big man under the basket where he's pretty much indefensible.

Take a look at it right there.

The feed from Griggs, one handed left handed shot right there by Raphael Rodriguez to get to the Scorebook Anthony, 40 left second period.

Because you don't have any any verticality in this game.

There's nobody jumping.

How high you sit in your chair is, is your height advantage.

And as you can see, Rafael sits considerably higher than most of the folks on that floor.

That's a big advantage, very big and accurate pass with him sitting right there in the post.

It's about impossible to stop there.

You saw Johnson right there who is called for the call for the offensive foul right there and back the other way.

But in his defense, he really didn't have a whole lot of reaction time.

Right.

There's a good job by the silver streaks to be in position right there to draw that charge.

That's where that quickness comes in.

If you can get there, you can draw that call.

McLaughlin puts up the shot.

It hits good looking shot by Daniel McLaughlin, the freshman with his first two six.

Two of the service streaks.

Get that other two right back.

That was a pretty shot, wasn't it?

You take another look at the bucket right here from McLaughlin.

Enough of a net.

And you see them tie tying him up and making them work so hard just to get down the floor.

wheelchair was on the line before he got rid of the ball.

Jack Riggs couldn't quite keep it in play.

Their grip right?

Of course.

He a sophomore Southside High School, averaging 7.1 points a game.

So now the silver streaks up by four.

We'll try to add to that lead as we near the three minute mark and the second quarter.

Here we go.

Travel.

They're traveling.

And remember how I said, yeah, while that was his first push, but he had it put his hands on his wheels and turned his chair already before he took two times before he took that first push.

And those counters.

But those count as pushes right.

One thing we talk about to Leslie is the the wheels actually being at an angle, Right.

The camber in the wheels.

It does a couple of things.

It's makes the chair more maneuverable and it creates a little bit of space when you're side by side.

So Mark Miller right here, the dean of Ask coaches Dover Streaks in the championship game.

And there's Andrea on the move right here.

Open shot puts it up in it off the glass that if Andrea six points that layup while it looks deceivingly easy because you're rolling at a constant speed in the chair it's not like when you're on your feet and you go to make that layup.

It's actually a pretty tough shot to make.

Going to look at it right here too.

You know, one thing that you alluded to, Leslie, is again, the fact that, you know, there's a little bit right there.

So you've actually really sat down in the chair and tried to try to make a shot like that, no matter where you at on the floor.

It takes a lot of strength.

It does.

It does.

And you notice that he wasn't he was slowing down as he approached the basket and their coach to do that when they when the defense isn't right there because that shot when you're moving fast is very difficult to make very chambers with the basketball back to Griggs here Greg will throw up the shot strong off the glass no good kept alive both by chambers and now back the other way on the takeaway know we talk about offense, we talk about points scored there's a whistle that last call while you know some people might say that contact didn't look real hard it didn't but what you'll notice about it is that Kenneth Andrew and his hands were nowhere near his wheels and have his hands on on his wheels.

He's not controlling his chair.

That's what drove that drew that whistle.

Look at Terry Chambers.

I don't know if Terry's got the strength to go from there.

We'll see.

The sixth grader from Pryce Middle School.

He got it there.

But that was a lane violation.

His rear wheels were over the line by the time the shot left his hands.

These officials do a great job there, and they don't let a whole lot go, that's for sure.

I mean, they were right on it.

No, they don't.

And with teams this fast, you can't because they'll get real aggressive real quick.

What they decide that they're going to be held shot right here.

Tough Rodriguez there and in there.

I think he got a hand on that.

Maybe that phahlane the cab's positioning, you know, just seems to be the everybody on the team seems to be where they need to be, especially defensively.

Atlanta has not had an easy trip down the floor here.

I don't think today.

Nope, not yet.

And that'll wear you down after a while.

It's a it's a lot of work on those arms and shoulders to have to fight to push your way down the down the court every time.

And keep in mind the service breaks only dress out six players and of course Atlanta only with seven.

So there's not really a lot of depth as you see Coach Lawson right there looking on her team, trailing by six here in this second quarter with five winding down a little block from behind right here by Johnson and Rice.

Now with it will push and he's got a breakaway Ken McLaughlin catch him when he travels I'm going to be called up right now one of the few I think he was so excited to see in front of it.

He saw an open path to the lane right there.

Sometimes these guys, because they're so fast and can dribble while they're pushing, they'll they'll go to employ a push before the ball hits the ground for that and it counts as a third push.

You know it's it's almost in the process.

Well, that's it after two quarters, DeKalb, eight, Atlanta, two in this year's wheelchair basketball championship.

We'll be right back with period three when we return.

The Open University has asked me to present a new coach life lessons from Onslow, friendships, the simple things that make life worth living.

Coming soon to Georgia Public Broadcasting, broadcast of the ACP Georgia Wheelchair Championship is made possible by sloppy and sad attorneys at law serving and protecting the interests of individuals and families in Atlanta and all of Georgia.

Since 1992.

And proud to support the wheelchair Championship basketball game career.

Coming soon to Georgia Public Broadcasting, where she sings from the heart with a voice that soars this long embrace.

Martina McBride live in concert on Great Performances Sunday at nine on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

We for 50 years, Johnny Cash towered above the American musical landscape.

He carefully crafted an image as a champion of the downtrodden and the imprisoned.

Johnny Cash was an icon for the outlaw, but his musical roots were firmly planted in his gospel music.

Join me, Dan Rather, for a journey into the soul of the Man in Black, the gospel music of Johnny Cash.

Monday at eight on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station, and now broadcasting in digital in the Atlanta area for the third period set to begin here inside the Arena, Gwinnett Center, Dave Garner, Leslie Sweat, I'm with you along with Gerald Olive, Barry courtside and the rest of the Georgia Public Broadcasting team here today, Air Force eight to the two cabs, Silver Streak, lead it over the Atlanta Wolfpack and run off the inbound right there.

Reese Johnson with a little bit of open room had the door shut, though, by Daniel McLaughlin We welcome you here today the a shot there short by Griggs and Leslie everything we thought it would be so far pretty much both teams up and down the floor.

Yeah there this Atlanta team can just, you know, get that inside look a little more often and figure out how to break that.

Press a little more effectively.

We'll see them put a few more points on the boards, I think.

Well, it seems like the trend in the last few years that we've seen this game played here has been kind of a slow start.

And then teams in the second half tend to pick things up a little bit, which is natural.

You know, you get the feel for the atmosphere a little bit and the surroundings there in the depth.

There's a nice, nice block there.

Boris Johnson I think for the Wolfpack and you certainly can't put all your eggs in one basket there, but they got to get Raphael Rodriguez more involved.

I think you saw Coach Lawson again, just two points so far in the game, the only two for Atlanta.

But of course, Reece Johnson's also averaging 13 points a game.

Rodriguez, of course, over seven as we've talked about.

So the Wolfpack certainly need to to find some offense here and get some other guys going.

Yeah.

And their their passes have to be very, very accurate because this two cab team all they're not big They have very quick hands and they'll they'll reach up there and snag that ball away in a heartbeat more and of course back in the game.

Great to see Chastity.

You know, it's like Gerald was saying up top.

Of course, I had actually forgotten about that until a little bit before the game there.

That Chastity, of course, was a last minute scratch due to an accident there before the game and was not able to play in the championship is just a heartbreaking situation for her.

So it's it's really great to see her with another chance.

Yeah, she played all season long and I want to say I'm trying to remember I believe she broke I want to say her leg, one leg, her arm.

I know she broke something and she was heartbroken that she couldn't be out there off the glass by Johnson.

That's the kind of shot you normally see him make.

So I don't know if we're still have a little nerves or maybe a little frustration going now.

They've decided they're going to try a little bit pressure.

I tell you what, though, Reese has got good strength and good form, though.

I mean, you saw that last shot, right?

There is a good shot.

Just couldn't quite get it to go.

But he has no problem getting the ball up there and that's high off the glass for D'Andre Hunt.

Hunt with his first two of the night.

It's now ten two to cap.

Nice shot.

You don't see too many kids using the glass like that anymore.

Take another look at it right here.

Hut actually had a defender right in front of him as well and absolutely just that right off the glass.

Andrew in right here with the feed you saw Kenneth right there talk and kind of make eye contact with DeAndre.

A lot of good communication right there on that last bucket.

They are good at that.

I will give them that.

And just to tie that up for additional information, you can log on to WW dot adapted sports dot com a newly designed website I do believe and boy it certainly sharp it is it's chock full of good information too I think people would enjoy going on and looking through that site.

You know we talked about basketball just being one of several sports that's offered by ASP.

Of course there is football.

I know there's some track and there's beep baseball and some things like that.

So, yeah, baseball is for the blind and visually impaired that you had a we had a when we misidentified the Henry County team earlier, that team that we were looking at, all those kids were in power chairs.

They're playing power soccer, which is played with this oversize soccer ball, really fun sports.

The band right here, Rodriguez with a shot right here, will take it and knock it down.

That's what they need more right there.

Absolutely.

Rafael was for all four of the Wolfpack sports here today.

And a second way right there.

A little bit of contact.

No, no whistle, a little incidental contact there.

Johnson with an open look, unable to get that one to go rebound and run.

Kenneth quickly trying to get that ball across to so into the hands of Martin Cassidy baseline shot open off the iron no good hot with the follow it won't go Clint did a nice job of blocking Rafael off of her for that open shot Unfortunately it didn't fall for three opportunities and finally the clear out there by Emmanuel McFarland to cap had good position right there three or four point right back there's that speed almost almost as fast and they reach right and knock that ball right away Andre long on the glass good How about that Very pretty Kenneth Anderson with eight points here today and it's a 12 for silver speak lead boy from way out there and that one out of bounds right there Ill advised pass there by McFarland a little bit wider of bricks can't say enough Andrew and certainly living up to his to the hype certainly coming into this game that is he's pretty excited as well he should be playing very well time out on the floor writer with three or four left in the first half and period.

Number three, again, you've got the three eight, six, eight minute periods.

We see a running clock right here as you see the Atlanta Wolfpack, only Lawson talking things over with their team right here, making they're going to look at Kenneth, Andrew and of course, the seventh grader from Chamblee Middle School who's got eight points here today.

And we'll take a look at some of the things that he's done here because he's been hitting shots really all over the the floor.

As we take a look here in the first half, you see Andre hitting a little bit of the baseline jumper right there.

That of course, later on the kick out there by Morton.

Andrew is hitting from the other side of the line there.

The force right down the middle of the lane knocks the shot home.

So it abandoned it.

Certainly with the big crystal ball from everywhere, it means absolutely 8.3 rebounds and doing a great job and think he was the guy that we focused on early on there.

But as we mentioned, it's more than just Andrew.

And you know, that's the thing about basketball at any level.

You take the other four players off the floor and obviously that one's not near as effective.

So it's certainly a team game, but it's nice to see Anthony in here now, living up to the billing and then having fun.

Look at that smile.

Yes, absolutely.

And that's what it's all about.

You know, both teams with a lot of smiles here tonight.

You know, they know they're on TV.

And I know you talk to these athletes here a little bit.

Does it make a difference?

I mean, do they know they're on TV?

Do they play a little bit harder or do they play hard all the time?

I've got to say, I don't know if they're playing any harder, but yeah.

Are they aware that they're on the TV?

Absolutely.

Who wouldn't be right?

Maybe.

Maybe, you know, a little extra time spent on the hair, you know, the makeup and things like that, too, You know?

Absolutely.

This morning right here, take away into the hands of Andre.

Nice.

Nice move to recover that ball.

That's so hard to do in a wheelchair.

He was looking over one shoulder, had to turn his chair, look over the other shoulder and bring that pass.

Great job by Johnson defensively taking that pass away.

A little court look there by Andrew Butler A to go and there's the shot right there that Atlanta needs That was a wise decision to pass that off because Rodriguez was just sitting there waiting on it and with his height advantage it's an uncontested shot for 12 six to carve on top of Atlanta with two more right there and back the other way to take a look at it right here in the nice feed in there.

And Rodriguez, with a long wingspan right there, able to go up and get the pass.

Nice looking bucket right there.

Johnson reaches over McLaughlin right there inside open look Rodriguez Griggs nearly got it to go rebound Morton a minute and a half to play here in the first half 12 six.

The tempo is starting to pick up even more than what we saw in that first and second quarter shot a little bit short by Andrew in one of his rare misses today.

Rebound.

RODRIGUEZ Great pass ahead.

Griggs good White glove it that's a tough one A-Rod is is basically a hemiplegia it was just to say he's pretty much dominantly just using his right arm That's why you see that right arm reach up, snag that ball every time.

If it's on his lip, the ball comes to him on his left side.

It's much more difficult for him to handle.

Take it away.

Johnson being followed by Morton Restall with the open leg, knocks it down a little showboating.

You want to talk about knowing you're on TV?

I'm pretty sure he's aware he's on TV.

I think so.

I think so.

Johnson with to the second Wolfpack player to record his name on the Scorebook here today.

And let's take another look at that one right here for us.

Check it out Little showboat or Johnson move right there.

Back on the other end here and all he is shot by Rodriguez wouldn't quite go the follow by Johnson another opportunity knocks it down and all of a sudden this game is tied back to a two point game.

Those offensive boards, a big very big Chris Johnson back to back buckets, just a two point game as time winds down here in the ball up big turnover.

They don't have much time.

Let's see if they can make something happen with a chance to tie it up.

Shot off the mark wouldn't go Spriggs the follow 2 seconds left another shot and it wouldn't quite go and that'll do it again.

The Wolfpack had a chance to tie it up there right before the break.

So a first half dominated for the most part by the Silver Streak.

But what a comeback by the Wolfpack.

And we have got a ballgame on our hands.

We've reached the half will take a timeout and be right back to the arena Gwinnett Center it's the Cavs over streak 12 the Atlanta Wolfpack ten.

We're back in a moment.

Moments in 1968, Dick Penick set out on a new adventure to live alone for one year in the Alaskan wilderness, and he would record everything on film.

Now see his amazing footage and hear his incredible story of survival alone in the wilderness.

Tuesday at 730 on Georgia Public Broadcasting, broadcast of the AARP Georgia Wheelchair Championship is made possible by plumbers, pipefitters and service technicians.

Local Union 72 is proud to support the HSP championship wheelchair basketball game.

We're also proud to be a part of Atlanta's progress for more than 100 years.

Sloppy and sad attorneys at law serving and protecting the interests of individuals and families in Atlanta and all of Georgia since 1992.

And proud to support the wheelchair championship basketball game.

Teaming with alive and shrouded in mystery.

These islands are a place of beauty and endless discovery.

I'm Dixie Carter.

Join for a revealing look at the secret seashore, Georgia's barrier islands.

Tuesday at 930 on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

All right.

From the Emerald Isle come the High Kings.

Join the hottest book and ballot act live from Dublin and check your eyes and solve the night.

The High Kings in concert through Thursday at eight on Georgia Public Broadcasting career coming soon to Georgia Public Broadcasting This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station and now broadcasting in digital in the Atlanta area.

Wow.

We're going to be back here at the Arena Gwinnett Center.

There you see the halftime score, the DeKalb service, 612, the Atlanta Wolfpack ten.

And we have got quite a basketball game here today.

Of course, Gerald, all a very is the third member of our broadcast team today.

He is standing by courtside as we welcome you to the half.

Gerald, what's going on?

Thanks a lot, Dave.

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

Let's talk about the relationship that ASCO has with the Georgia Department of Education, as well as as I say.

Could you explain that for me?

Absolutely.

We've been working for more than a decade now, working with the Georgia Department of Education, working with the Georgia High School Association, And we have developed many, many years worth of programing and expertise in implementing these programs with the school systems.

And both the G, the DOE and the G HSA recognize the importance of these programs within the high school systems and work with us to reach out to superintendents of school systems to help get these programs implemented.

Talk about the impact on the kids education and how impactful what it is for them to have this outlet.

Okay, This is this is what it's all about.

As a matter of fact, the ability to participate in sports and organize programs like you're seeing today completely changes the educational experience of these students.

It improves their self-esteem, it improves their confidence, it gives them community pride, it lets them participate in a way that they see the other students participate.

And again, both the DOE and the High School Association recognize the importance that these programs and the impact these programs have on the students educational experience.

I'll give you a quick example.

Last year we had the Henry County School system join us and the Henry County Hurricanes, their JV basketball team just last weekend in Augusta, won the championship, won the state championship.

And those students again, it impacts their whole life.

It's a life changing event.

They were part of something that gave their they won a championship.

It gave them civic pride.

It gave them personal pride.

And as I said before, it just improved their overall educational experience.

And we see that and the improvement in their education itself, the actual educational experience, their actual grades, their performance in school.

Everything improves when when they have an accomplishment like this.

We want to thank you for being here today and we're going to send it back over to Dave.

All right.

Thank you, Gerald.

Right there again, Jeff Hoffman joining us right here on Gab.

Certainly appreciate him being with us right here.

And it takes a lot of folks, Leslie, to be able to make a weekend like this work.

And of course, we do want to welcome some folks with us here today.

The Yakuza high cheerleaders have certainly been a mainstay over the last few years.

Earlier today, of course, Beverly Vaughn, the founder and executive director of Ask Honor, the Cheerleaders from Coosa High School, from Floyd County for five years of spirit and volunteer service and helping to enhance the quality of the wheelchair basketball championships.

As you see the ladies right there and their names, of course, Elizabeth Haynes and Lee Tuck talk, of course, all those cheerleaders right there, Amy Hill and Laney Crews, the head coaches there for the Coosa High cheerleaders and certainly welcome all those young ladies being on board with us right here.

And that's certainly been a lot of fun having them there.

And I know it kind of helps create the atmosphere, too, for these basketball players.

It does.

It does.

It's a tremendous thing to see them out there cheering.

I know.

I know.

The kids love it.

And it's it's a lot of fun to watch.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Okay.

Gerald Oliveira is standing by with another special guest, Gerald.

I mean, I'm here with Scott Hollenbeck, director of partnerships for ASP.

Now, let me ask you, you've been a Paralympian.

You've been involved with a lot of other organizations.

What's your impression of ASP as you've come to join the organization?

I just continue to be impressed by it.

The the depth of the programing, the training, the involvement of the school districts has has really surprised me, quite honestly, makes me proud to be a Georgian, to be honest also.

And I think it's great the benefit for the students is clear.

You know, they're graduating more readily and and they're more engaged in in their in their school activities.

And so it's it's phenomenal.

We're leading the nation quite, quite frankly.

And we really it's been wonderful to have the support of the HSA and the Department of Education.

I think it's showing everywhere that I go.

I'm just shocked, frankly, is the best way to put it.

So it starts this is the grassroots.

The kids are in their communities, they're playing for their school teams.

And this great happening right now, Jeff did mention the partnership with Henry County, but I know you also are working on other counties, bringing on other partnerships.

What are some of the things that you're working on towards the future?

Well, we're we'd love to have 50% of the counties in the state in a couple of years.

And we were getting a lot more interest.

A lot of the states are are the counties are starting to realize, hey, this is this is just sports.

These are just athletes.

It's just you know, it's no different than adding volleyball and so what I'd like to see at the the school level is, you know, the we continue to add five or ten districts a year.

That's about all we can handle, frankly, now.

But now we're starting to see more business involvement, some groups coming out of the woodwork.

And that's exciting, too.

We're going to have ourselves as a title sponsor for the association next next season.

We'll talk about that some more.

So.

Okay.

Well, thanks a lot, Scott, for all that you do.

Listening back over to Dave and get ready for the second half.

All right.

Thanks, Jarell.

Nice job indeed.

Leslie, let's talk a little bit about this basketball game going on here today.

We've got a good one early on.

It looks like the cab is going to run away with it.

But the Wolfpack with quite a comeback there in the third period.

Yeah, I knew that they had that in them.

I watched them play a lot this year.

They needed to settle in.

They needed to have some good passes.

They needed to get their guys inside, use their height advantage, and they've done that.

They're going to look at the first half stats here again, field goals, five of 19 for Atlanta, six of 18 for DeKalb.

Right there.

As you see the percentages, free throws, Neither team really tearing it up at the line here today.

But that could change in the second half.

It could determine the outcome of the game.

Frankly, rebounding picture is right about the same as far as the assists and of course, one block for Atlanta here today.

And of course, taking a look back at that first half, it was basically the Kenneth Andron show for the silver streaks.

Again, eight first half points there.

And also Raphael Rodriguez with six, of course, doing a great job right there.

You see Andrew's numbers there along the bottom of the screen and certainly looking forward to it.

Excellent second half.

But again, as you see Coach Mark Miller, the cab, of course, with the big early lead, right chassis, Morton very involved and of course hitting a couple of early buckets to get that two cab offense rolling as you see Andrew down the lane right here.

And of course we talked about him a lot in that first half Coach only loss on the Atlanta Wolfpack, of course, trying to find some offense and they did so right before the break.

Raphael Rodriguez Of course, with six points in that first half.

Chris Johnson With back to back buckets as well.

They're right at the end of that third period.

And that, of course, has pulled this game to within two points.

So it should be a lot of fun.

Again, 12 to 10 hour halftime score.

We'll take a timeout and be back for the second half when we return when we do.

She sings from the heart with a voice that soars this long embrace.

Martina McBride live in concert on Great Performances Sunday nine on Georgia Public Broadcasting, broadcast of the AARP Georgia Wheelchair Championship is made possible by interested in a rewarding career instead of a job.

Limousine Pipefitters and service technicians.

Local 72 offers training for careers that provide opportunities for professional advancement and lifetime security.

It's your future, and it all starts here.

We for 50 years, Johnny Cash towered above the American musical landscape.

He carefully crafted an image as champion of the downtrodden and the imprisoned.

Johnny Cash was an icon for the outlaw, but his musical roots were firmly planted in his gospel music.

Join me, Dan Rather, for a journey into the soul of the Man in Black, the gospel music of Johnny Cash.

Monday at eight on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Elvis Live in Concert reunites Elvis back on stage with his original backup singers and band members in commemoration of the 25 years since his passing, this magnificent concert event took place at the Pyramid Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, Monday at 930 on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

All right.

From the Emerald Isle come the High Kings join the hottest quick and valid apps live from Dublin.

And set your eyes and solve the night.

The High Kings in concert through Thursday at eight on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station and now broadcasting in digital in the Atlanta area.

Back here at the Arena, Gwinnett Center, Dave Garner, Leslie Sweat, and with you, Gerald Oliveira, courtside today along with the rest of the Gp-b crew in 1210, you see the score of the Cavs Silver streaks open the second half with the basketball and a two point lead.

But the Atlanta Wolfpack, of course, right back in it there with a surge late in that first half shot right here, off the mark by Andrew, who's been hot.

Now, Chastity Morgan did something that may have gone unnoticed there, but Kenneth was tied up up top with Rodriguez on him.

She came up, set a little pick, and off he went around the side there.

Good.

Look at Reese Johnson.

He, a junior from Douglas High School, passes off inside Grigg's short and run with it.

One of the things we like to do, in addition to calling the action to sort of educate folks about wheelchair basketball, for those that haven't seen it before, of course, we've been on the air five years here as part of this game and there is a shot from outside by Anderson who just continues to pick up where he left off.

He does doesn't need to be as seemingly small.

He is he's got a beautiful shot from the outside, miles from way out there, just outside the arc here, Anderson, Of course, in double figures now with ten of the silver streaks, 14 points.

So that pressure down the sideline for Johnson right over the edge of that line as refs don't miss that.

Back to cap right here.

Of course, last year the West Georgia Wolverines where you're champions, of course, the Atlanta Wolfpack winning at No.

Six the two years prior to that in 0504 and five, it belonged to the Macon Bears.

And there's charging inside there and back the other way.

Looks like just a four point game right here.

Raphael Rodriguez had 29 points in a game earlier this year.

Plans to attend the University of Alabama has a 3.2 GPA.

The seniors from Tri-Cities High School backcourt pressure causing that turnover.

They didn't get it over the halfcourt line in the 10 seconds allotted, But as we said in the first half, Liz, I think that's really been the key all day long, has been the defense for the cabbage.

You see the website right there again W WW dot adapted sports dot org.

For additional information you'll find all sorts of opportunities on that website.

Ways to be involved, ways to volunteer, ways to help out local organizations that are interested and maybe getting teams started, partners who might want to help out a school system and get a team started.

There's lots of great information on that website visited the other day and it does look a little bit revamped and it has a very attractive website and there is a lot of information on there.

And not only just about volunteering and everything, but also about the teams themselves and the schedules and things like that to kind of know what's happening and when and very informative.

I encourage all the folks to check it out.

In fact, the teams use that site a lot and that the all the coaches, their forms and whatnot are all online now.

They're password protected.

You go in and download what you need and now it's a it's an Internet world out there.

I guess.

Johnson Again, try to stay with it right here.

No whistle and time out because it looks like they will give Reece a chance to climb back in here.

You know, he and you see an athlete stand up out of his chair like that.

And you might be wondering, hey, what's going on?

I thought they were in chairs and they are to play the game.

But a lot of these guys do not need the chairs in their everyday life or only use them for longer distances and things of that nature.

They have to have a documented physical disability that would prevent them from playing the able bodied version of the sport competitively in order to be eligible.

And so some of them will get up and walk away.

And sometimes, you know, the issue, Dave, might be that they that they have a degenerative condition, perhaps that is such that the doctors don't want the wear and tear of running and jumping of everyday sports.

But if you put them in a chair, they can play.

That's a good point right there.

And too, also, you know, they aren't they cannot come up out of the either.

They can't, you know, sit up a little bit either to get an advantage.

Right.

Like Kenneth just did when that chick's over and he popped up out of it.

I'm sure that's right there.

Yeah.

The sport was originally, you know, come up with by these veterans returning from war, missing.

And so it's predominantly was played originally only by those with lower limb involvement.

And so you're not allowed to use your legs at all in this game.

So rising up out of the chair and using your legs to do it is considered a physical advantage foul.

And you only get three of those and then you're out of the game, right?

So it's a different battle from an everyday common fell shot to thrown right there little battle jump ball call possession arrow to Atlanta.

Leslie one thing I didn't notice before was before the game, the officials looked like they were measuring the height of the base of the chair right there, I guess is are there a particular there are there are some rules and regs about the equipment.

What they were measuring was the foot wrist height.

The foot plate height cannot be more than five inches off the surface of the floor.

The reason for that being that if there were chair toe to toe contact, the higher up.

nice shot.

A higher up foot rest would cause injury by hitting the legs of the opposing player.

Rafael Rodriguez, knocking down two more right there to pull it within a two point game.

And you see it right here inside Garcia look there and that position.

So 14, 12, still a two point lead right here by the cab after they scored the first two out of the gate here in the second half.

But LAMB is turning the tables here a little little pressure.

All that height was a big advantage right there, as you see Rodriguez right here at the allotted knocks down the free throw, first made free throw of the afternoon by either team nine points for Rodriguez, second one on the way, one of two on that trip.

But just a one point game now at 1413, just what took away and once again Johnson on the floor Rudder You know as they were talking beforehand about the tempo of this game being very fast paced, we were expecting both needs to be up and down the floor.

And we've certainly gotten that.

But another thing that you had mentioned was expect a very physical contest as well.

And we've seen by the number of all the players we've seen on the floor here today, I think that's safe to say that that's certainly been a proper assumption and run off the inbound right here has got to be careful.

Now, do you think he changes the style of his game, any point with four fouls or do you think he's.

I've actually yeah, I've already seen him pull back a little bit some things that that he hasn't reached.

And a couple of times when I know that it was his gut instinct to do so An earlier time when Johnson came out of his chair and won for me.

Rodriguez and the first Wolfpack lead of the afternoon, a chance for a three point play.

And if Andrew, the leading scorer for the Cavs silver streaks, will foul out with ten points, Morgan and Hunt and McLaughlin are there all of them?

They're really going to have to step up their game to account for for the speed and the shooting loss that they're saying they're, well, at free.

Throw off the mark.

Last touch, though, by the Wolfpack.

But what a comeback right here, though, Leslie, by the Atlanta Wolfpack from three.

Yeah, they do that Yeah.

We've lost the ball for a second so we were kicking it around under the table there.

I was doing my best to find it anyway.

But what a comeback indeed.

Here, though, Leslie, you know, this was a game, I believe it was, you know, 10 to 2.

I think at one point, silver streaks were on fire.

And then for Atlanta to come roaring back like this, they had their first lead of the ballgame here, 15, 14, just under 3 minutes to play in this fourth period.

And look at four more right here after the turnover.

I believe we just had the Cavs shooting on Atlanta's are on their own, sir.

How do I say that?

I'm saying that backwards, aren't I?

They were shooting at the wrong foot.

Yeah, that's what I'm driving.

Yes.

My it is a third.

So Rafael Rodriguez picks up his third foul and all of a sudden he's got to be careful here.

But, you know, the one thing you can't take for granted if you're the Wolfpack right now is the fact that Andrea is out of the game.

That doesn't mean you've got it locked up by any means because it doesn't you know, you've got players on this team.

Evans averages six.

MCLAUGHLIN eight.

HUNT Eight and a half, more than seven.

Everybody on this team could score for the cab.

Lot of speed.

Delon Wright ripped away Gordon getting tied up there with Rodriguez Another thing that does to again with the cab only dressing out six players as that's what leaves you know reserves basically in this situation if you were to have somebody else foul out.

That's right they'd have to play short in that circumstance.

Or if somebody were injured, they'd have to play short.

Yeah.

Morton Right here dribbling physical breaking that that press to get them the floor uncontested.

Nice shot off the glass Jazz bought with their first two of the afternoon and boy that's a big two and it gives the lead back to the service streaks when they needed it.

Take another look at it right here again, Jazz City with the opening shot and Rodriguez was playing defense in front of that.

They're a little bit guarding McLaughlin and that gave Morton just enough room to operate.

Now back on the other end at that pass, let him just a little too much.

You 30 seconds remaining, time winding down here in this fourth quarter.

The silver streaks again a perfect six and on the season but in a battle here today with the Atlanta Wolfpack that they are time winding down and a turnover right there McLaughlin the wheel on the line and just ran out of room there good good coverage defensively there by the wolfpack who didn't give him any room to operate and a foul going to be on McLaughlin right there he got a hand on it I think they're going to look at Johnson's numbers you know four points five rebounds today.

Greece will have one more.

This could tie it up.

And he's take his time and hit this one final shot of the fourth quarter right here.

That one off the mark and that will do it.

So from four quarters of play here, it's the Cavs silver streaks clinging by one 1650.

We're back with three and five and we return career coming soon to Georgia Public Broadcasting broadcast of the AARP Georgia Wheelchair Championship is made possible by sloppy and sad attorneys at law serving and protecting the interests of individuals and families in Atlanta and all of Georgia.

Since 19 two.

And proud to support the wheelchair championship basketball game.

It works every time and it works whether you know it or not.

That's great news.

Every single time you do something, it matters.

Every time you take action or don't, it matters.

And I can prove it.

Sunday at 830 on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

In 1968, Dick Prentice set out on a new adventure to live alone for one year in the Alaskan wilderness, and he would record everything on film.

Now see his amazing footage and hear his incredible story of survival all alone in the wilderness.

Tuesday at 730 on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Teaming with life and shrouded in mystery.

These islands are a place of beauty and endless discovery.

I'm Dixie Carter.

Join me for a revealing look at the secret seashore.

Georgia's barrier islands.

Tuesday at 930 on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station, and now broadcasting in digital in the Atlanta area.

Back at the Arena, Gwinnett Center, the 2008 wheelchair championship right here on GPB to cast 16 Atlanta 15 Dave Garner.

Leslie Swetnam with you.

Gerald, the very courtside and the rest of the GPB broadcast team in the house here today at the Gwinnett Arena.

And some good basketball being played here.

Leslie, in a tie ballgame, just a one point game.

And it's anybody's game at this point that it is.

And they are aggressively going after it.

And we've already seen how that aggression has resulted in the cab for a big loss.

And Kenneth Andrew, having fouled out of the whistle on the floor right here.

You know, you and I have been part of the broadcast for the last five years now.

This was being the fifth year on GPB and I don't think I've ever seen a more physical game played in this wheelchair championship than what I've seen here today.

They are aggressive and I knew that we would see that, especially once they settled in.

Yeah, I got all the nerves out.

All the jitters worked out.

Yeah.

Number 14, Ben Gilchrist.

And on the floor for to cab number 12 Jamal Evans in the lineup as well.

Basically everybody on that server street bench is in the game right now because of course Kenneth Andrew and fouled out just a little while ago there with ten points ten of the service reach 16 on the day a foul going to be called on the cab right here behind me two on hunch versus feel is putting on a clinic a second to go on chair handling abilities of as he was weaving in and out through and all the time dribbling the ball and watching out for his teammates.

Three points by Chris Johnson points five and six for on the afternoon and outside Atlanta.

One point lead is once again you see the website WWE W dot adapted sports dot org for additional information on Aspen all the different sports that are involved with adaptive sports.

So if he moves nice nice stop right there.

Got the angle just couldn't quite get the shot to go right there.

Did D'Andre Hunt nice save right there by McLaughlin to keep that ball in play into the hands of Moore.

And I said, I almost tied that up.

now that stolen queens clean away, taken away by Reese, and now a fast feel.

Rodriguez has some open floor.

So if he can slow down and get that shot.

Rodriguez short on that one right there.

Johnson kept it in bounds up and it's tough shot underneath the basket.

Chris Johnson with eight points he and Rafael have combined for 19 on the afternoon for all 19 of Atlanta's points.

They lead it by three largest lead of the day for the wolfpack as well the steal and looking for more right there off the fingertips of Morton.

So to go right back to Atlanta they are wolfpack trying to hand these silver streaks their first loss of the season here the championship game off the inbound Johnson's shot short Nice job on that rebound but only to have it knocked away Rodriguez open look takes his time, puts it up.

It gets the roll.

Rafael Rodriguez with 13 points.

It's 2116, a five point lead, the largest of the afternoon for Atlanta and a timeout on the floor, waffling out there with a nice touch pass.

But I believe the wheel is on the line there.

So right back to Atlanta and the game is being played on that end of the floor.

It is here the last few minutes past block right there.

This is when those passes, the accuracy of them become so important.

So.

McGlothlin speed, can he stay in front of Johnson?

He does puts up the shot nice one handed layup 34 points today, giving it top speed.

Very nice shot.

A lot of speed right there.

And here they're going to press see McLaughlin chasing it down right here position and off the glass back on the other end Johnson stretching out for that one right there.

He's got an open look, tough shot right there.

He's kind of turning away from the basket.

Yep.

That's that's when you approach at the wrong angle.

It's a very difficult shot to make.

He was trying to correct his angle, but then he was leaning the wrong way to the ball loose jump off call possession arrow to the Wolfpack.

Atlanta has been in the title game three out of the last four years.

As we mentioned, the six champs certainly familiar territory.

And you see Johnson Johnson with that lane was chair was going over and he tried the shot anyway.

That would have been quite an amazing shot had he made it.

Yes.

Don't believe there was any contact.

I think you just know it was his lane.

You see that arms that long and you reach out back on the other end.

McLaughlin opened the ball with a block right there.

Unselfish play, though, by McLaughlin right there, picking it back to Hunt, who had the open look.

But Johnson was there for the defense.

He's right there back down on the floor with a Rafael, though, on defense.

Rafael doing what he can out there and just let that go.

Sounds to me pass.

Thought he had a player over there talking to the ref, saying Hey, I was I was bumped there trying to plead his case.

Yeah.

Sports are sports after all.

That's been a situation where basically all of the players have been in the same area.

I mean, you've seen them all kind of clumped together on one quadrant of the court.

It's not like the teams, you know, after they shoot the ball and they get back down to play defense.

I mean, these teams are basically going man to man right here in this situation and doing a lot of pressing.

And that's pretty much what it's all about.

And you see McLaughlin again chasing down Rodriguez.

He's been up and down the floor absolutely outstanding.

I can't tell you how exhausting it is to push your chair that far that fast for that long and still have the strength to shoot on on a regulation goal.

MORTON With it right here again, Chastity Morton, 3.0 GPA, manager of the A girls hoops team at Heritage High School.

DECA member.

Rosetta Society member C D'Andre Hunt Yeah, DeAndre got the ball, got up under the front end of his foot rest and it popped his chair up, flipped him out.

So the contact was with the ball, not with the player.

It's been fun to watch these teams over the years because four or five years ago, some of these players that are playing here today were involved in this season in these championship games that we've talked about because a lot of the players do start in middle school.

There's some seventh and eighth graders out there today.

We've got a sixth grader and Terry Chambers, who's out there.

So a lot of younger players that are able to really stay with these programs and develop chemistry.

Still a three point lead by Atlanta 2118, The Wolfpack, of course, trying to win their second state title in the last three years.

Meanwhile, DeKalb, of course, the state runner up last year.

You see Evans season totals there.

That mix, you know, silver streaks, the runner up last year to the west Georgia Wolverines back in the title game again this year.

And there is one of for Jamaal Evans he records his name in the book with his first point of the day that makes it a one shot ballgame 2119.

This thing is still up for grabs right here.

And DeKalb is still pressing, even without the speed and ball share handling abilities of Andrew.

You look at Johnson again working that to a baseline.

nice shot right there, too.

Rodrigues Good pass inside there.

And Raphael's got 15.

Did well to see him coming up right there was a nice little ride for the Wolfpack had a five point lead, watched it evaporate a little bit down to a one possession game and get two more back in making it a two possession game here with 50 seconds left in the first pass.

that one in and out on the floor right here.

Rodriguez with it.

Ahead there, Ben Wilkerson using his chair to create that space so that McLaughlin couldn't get up on him, blocking foul on him.

That's going to be his third.

You know, we talked about these players being with these programs for a while, but is it is it just me, Leslie, or has the level of competition gotten better?

Yeah, they absolutely have their.

You know, they're playing hard week in and week out.

That's the great thing about this program is that it gives them weekly practices and games much like there or, you know, they're able bodied friends that are playing on their high school teams.

And with that kind of time on the court, you see improvement.

Rodriguez, one of two, nearly had the first roll in and out of there, but they got the second one to go, and he's got 16 on the afternoon.

So 24, 19, right back to a five point lead here with 25 seconds left in the fifth period, Roslin thought about giving it out there to Morton Crosscourt good look there off the fingertips of Jamal Evans.

Dominique Tompkins, number 21 in the lineup for Atlanta, the senior from Southside High School.

And that'll do it for the end of the fifth period right there.

So still a good match up here as we hit the final quarter of play this afternoon, 24 to 19.

It's the Atlanta Wolfpack over the two Cavs silver streaks.

We'll be right back in a moment.

When she sings from the heart with a voice that soars this long embrace, Martina McBride live in concert on Great Performances Sunday at Nine on Georgia Public Broadcasting, broadcast of the AARP.

Georgia Wheelchair Championship is made possible by slappy and sad attorneys at law, serving and protecting the interests of individuals and families in Atlanta and all of Georgia since 1992.

And proud to support the wheelchair championship basketball game, interested in a rewarding career instead of a job.

Limousine Pipefitters and service technicians, Local 72 offers training for careers that provide opportunities for professional and lifetime security.

It's your future, and it all starts here.

For 50 years, Johnny Cash towered above the American landscape.

He carefully crafted an image as champion of the downtrodden and the imprisoned.

Johnny Cash was an icon for the outlaw.

But his musical roots were firmly planted in his gospel music.

Join me, Dan Rather, for a journey into the soul of the Man in Black.

The Gospel music of Johnny Cash Monday at eight on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

The Open University has asked me to present a new coach.

Life lessons from Onslow.

Friendships.

The simple things that make life worth living.

Coming soon to Georgia Public Broadcasting.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station, and now broadcasting in Digital in the Atlanta area.

Back here at the Arena, Gwinnett Center, 2419, as we open up the final period of play here in this wheelchair championship and you see the score, Atlanta Wolfpack, 24 caps over 3 to 19.

And two more right there for Kassidy Morton.

So that brings the game back to within a one possession game at 24, 21.

They've gone to Leslie Sweat and with you, Gerald, all very courtside, along with the rest of the GPB crew, and tell you what it's going to come down to this fourth and final period.

The of this game still very much in doubt here.

The nice defense by McLaughlin on that call Griffith lost the ball on that now DeKalb gets the turnover side a game here today very physical as we've talked about certainly want to welcome you the viewers back on board with us right here once again for this year's ASP state wheelchair basketball championship.

Chastity Moore with the basketball four points here today with that last bucket being guarded pretty tight right here.

Nowhere to go with the basketball and possession.

Arrow will go to the Wolfpack after the tie up.

Leslie ASP, of course, has been recognized by a lot of different people.

Several awards have been given as well.

And it's just it's great to see ASP receive so much recognition, not only the state but in the country as well.

Absolutely.

Most recently in January of this year, received the 2008 Martin Luther King Jr Corporate Humanitarian Award from Georgia Perimeter College, the one when you've got quality program like this, it's good to see that recognition is certainly well deserved.

Saw Rodriguez Scruggs right there grab his first two of the afternoon number four with the bucket right there so 2621.

And right now if you're the wolfpack again trying to keep that he you feel a little bit more comfortable with the five point lead and there you get a look at the championship hardware that will be handed out here immediately following the contest today.

And if you're either one of these teams, you know, the smaller trophy's nice, but you certainly want the bigger one by game time, that's for sure.

Absolutely.

Shot a little bit short right there from McLaughlin back the other way if your coach only lost and you got to feel good Leslie about the comeback here today by the Wolfpack.

Absolutely.

And there's another shot by Greg So back to back buckets.

He's had a lot of shots today.

But here here in this last period, he certainly made some of them count.

And then off the turnover right there, Johnson had a look.

I guess if you're just joining us, Kenneth Andrew fouled out of the game with ten points, the leading scorer for DeKalb.

You see this last week right here.

Great look there by Johnson Lee over the shoulder flip right there.

And so hard to defend that pass to that height.

There's not a lot to be done about It shot a little too strong.

RODRIGUEZ Another opportunity too strong off the glass taken down by McLaughlin The 2821 and situation right now with the Wolfpack.

You just really got to play defense right here more than anything else.

Meanwhile, coach Mark Miller, his Silver Streak squire trying to find a little bit of offense.

Roger, that certainly wasn't a problem early in the game, but credit the Wolfpack defense, which is certainly stepped up here, especially in the second half, forced numerous turnovers and they've been able to score a few points off of those turnovers and they lead it by seven.

Still lots of hard contact down there.

We talk about a running clock, but there are certainly some instances where the clock will stop, that being one of them right there was timeouts as well.

They stop on timeouts, free throws, of course, at the ref's discretion.

In that case, that's what we just saw.

Good crowd here this afternoon as well.

Folks continuing to check out the action right here.

And it's certainly been a very fun game to be a part of down there all alone again.

doesn't fall just off the mark right there and nearly had another one.

He scored the last two trips up the floor, nearly made it three for three long shot right there by McLaughlin.

Off the mark.

Might be a little bit of desperation.

I think he was hoping for a three there, trying to beat the shot clock, the no shot clock.

But right in the situation here where, you know, you find yourself four and a half minutes left with that running clock down seven, he might be thinking, hey, three point shots right here, You know, got a guy to try to make something happen, trying to spark that offense a little bit.

McLaughlin and Morton have pretty much binned the off three by Reese that almost went something we haven't seen too much up here today.

The three point attempts.

There's several out there who have the strength to pull it off.

But it's such a low probability shot from a jaw dropping out.

Rodriguez, with his 18th point here today and the senior looking to go out of state, champion it for the Wolfpack.

And hang on here.

It's now a nine point lead, the largest of the afternoon.

Another opportunity after the steal and he's got two more So Rodriguez hits his average here today with 20 points.

That pressure is hurting them.

They're having to fight real hard.

Rafael, I think was scoreless the first period or two and then since then, he's he's pretty much done all this damage here in four periods or so.

Well, Atlanta finally figured out how to get the ball down and get under the basket and use his height to the advantage that it is.

Chastity Morton got a push on the floor.

Open shot right here.

Wouldn't quite go.

Jamal Evans trying to follow draws the whistle and it will be a two shot foul for Jamal Evans.

The three is based on just guessing and that is going to be five fouls honorees.

JOHNSON So Johnson will foul out here today with eight points.

Take your hats off to the junior from Douglas High School eight points here today and a big reason for the surge of the second half by the Atlanta Wolfpack.

The first question is, is there enough time left on the clock for DeKalb to take advantage of them?

Now, Atlanta losing one of their primary ball handlers shout outs.

We've got 315 left.

They can pull it off.

It's a lot of points right now.

Coach Miller looking on right here.

Evans, First one on the way, a little short off the front of the iron.

We'll have another and the second one, unable to get the roll right here, taken away by Rodriguez back the other way.

They're going to look at Griggs for points here in the second half, trying to dish it off as we hit the three minute mark in the sixth and final here in this year's wheelchair basketball championship.

To take it back the other way.

One guy we haven't talked a lot about today, Aboubakar GABA, the freshman from North Atlanta High School Honor student, volunteered at a homeless shelter.

A member of the Atlanta Wolfpack was Terry Chambers, Dominique Tompkins.

All of those players certainly standing out here today.

And of course, for DeKalb and Gilchrist to talk about, of course, Danielle McLaughlin, Chastity Moore, Don, three hot, Kenneth Anderson, Jamal Evans, all those guys very involved here today.

And when you only have, you know, six, seven players dressed out like this, I mean, you really do have to rely on everybody to pitch in and do their part.

And that's really been the reason for the Cavs success.

This year, because they have gotten everybody involved and just really been about one player.

I mean, certainly Andrea has stood out, but everybody's really pitched in.

Yeah, they've they've all got the ability to shoot and score and so you've got to respect that and you got to you got to cover all all your bases against a team like that.

It's tough to do official time out right here.

Fans are going to be called on 14.

That's going to be on Gilchrist like he had his foot plates and was holding another player.

Looks like he's still got locked up there together.

Yeah, sometimes those things happen.

Now, that first game when Atlanta was beat so soundly by the cab, Aboubakar was trying to bring the ball in for Atlanta and they didn't have the big guys to pass it inbound to.

And DeKalb was full court president stealing and scoring and stealing and scoring and stealing and scoring over and over.

So this is a big turnaround for Aboubakar.

He's got a little room to breathe out there.

Gabi, you see the freshman from North Atlanta High School.

I think he was Wayne violation a little too far, little too far over that line.

As I said, the front casters, which are the small wheels on the front of the chair, can be over the line.

But the rear wheel where it touches the floor cannot be on the line.

So back to the service trace right here.

But time winding down as we hit the two minute mark in this one 3221 Atlanta looking to hang on for their second state title in three years.

The Cavaliers undefeated this year.

Runner ups last year trying to win the championship this year, but down by 11, McLaughlin puts up the shot.

It hits Daniel Glass with a six points today, a run by They're going to look at Daniel solid afternoon indeed for the freshman from Dru Hill's in a turnover right here ball off the fingertips there of chambers and knocked it back into McFarland who was still out of bounds there.

So they need all those turnovers they can get right now.

Got to get some quick shots around here.

Indeed shot too strong right here.

Still with it.

Baseline puts it up.

Well, good.

Greg speaking right out of McLaughlin's outreached hands.

No whistle right there Rodriguez be up on by Evans Craig's with the basketball dribbling time winding down here shot off the mark Rodriguez is there for the follow 22 points for Rafael Rodriguez He's lighting it up today and here's the Speedy McLaughlin.

Quickly back down to the other end to Kat has the numbers here.

Three on one good hustle there by Garver.

Get back even it up there a little bit on Trey Hunt puts up the shot and gets the roll first points in the second half or DeAndre Hunt four points on the afternoon and 22.4 22.2 on the clock right here.

Perhaps one final shot right here for the three the Wolfpack It will inbound it they do get it in to Griggs here Jakob needing a turnover but just going to run out of time and McLaughlin with it.

Maybe a chance for one more shot at it here with 10 seconds left in the proper shot short and out of bounds at the final seconds will tick off the clock here inside the arena.

The great one at Center, and that will do it.

The final score here today for the Atlanta Wolfpack, 30 for the Cavs, silver streaks, 25 and the 2008 Aspen wheelchair state basketball championship goes to the Atlanta Wolfpack for the second time in the last three years.

A job right here by Coach only Lawson and the Wolfpack.

Take your hats off, though, to both squads and did a fun game here today.

Very intense game.

Both teams really up and down the floor and have done an absolute great job.

Gerald Oliveira standing by with the winning coach, Gerald Ford.

I'm here with Coach Lawson.

Congratulations on a great this is on a great win.

I know you're very proud of your team.

extremely proud.

They hung in there and kept fighting, picked up their defense.

We were playing halfcourt defense, but we found that we needed to go to the press, full court press.

And that made the difference in the third period and bought us up.

And we were only two points behind.

And as a result of that and just a change of attitude, as we came back from halftime, our guys really got an outstanding job.

We've just been a proud of their improvement and their defensive skills.

They played a tough team.

We our hearts go out to the kickoff county silver streaks there, outstanding group of athletes.

We had to fight hard to win this one and we just proud of our organization and absolutely the opportunity for these guys to play sports.

Congratulations on a great win.

Back over to you day by day.

Thank you, Gerald.

Again, Leslie, great game here.

And Atlanta certainly did their their part in getting back in this game after falling behind early.

Everybody just did a great job.

It was it was a that's a testimony to perseverance to stay in there, too, to not lose hope, but to come back.

Here we go.

Well, Leslie, I've enjoyed working with you and for Leslie, Gerald Oliveira and the entire GPB crew, I'm Dave Gardner saying, so long once again, Atlanta Wolfpack, your 2008 state wheelchair basketball champions away Funding for today's broadcast of the 2008 AAASP Wheelchair Championship has been made possible in part by flappy and sad attorneys at law and the Plumbers and Pipefitters.

Local union number 72.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station, and now broadcasting in Digital in the Atlanta area.