be born coast to coast.

Clear the runway.

Come on.

It's a slam dunk from three.

Watch this guy Go drive back city.

Hello, and welcome to the Gwinnett Arena.

This is the American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs Championship 2012.

Fletcher Proctor alongside Leslie Sweat then.

And we've got a great contest tonight, Leslie We've got Gwinnett six and hosting the runners up what from one year ago West Georgia five and one.

What do these teams need to do to walk out of here at the victory today?

You know, it's funny because they're both in sort of an unusual situation for them in that they've both been in this arena.

They've both been here in the big game before.

But the West Georgia team has had a many years of success.

This is sort of a a big Cinderella story for the Gwinnett Heat.

So it's going to be interesting to see if they can settle their nerves and go back to playing the kind of games that they've played earlier in the season.

Let's take a quick look at the starting lineups first for West Georgia.

You've got Lesley-Ann Hutchins.

Where's number 15?

Doug Johnston number 31.

He's their leading scorer with eight points a game.

Eugene Layne, number 13, Sally Heath is 14.

And number one, Crystal Ivey rounds out the West Georgia starters.

Rick Gwinnett, The heat, they are led by Stephen Hobbs.

And number ten, number 11 teacher Douglas Brittney Wetzel wears number 21.

23 is Martinez Johnson.

He's their leading scorer, 13 points a game.

And Bryce Croxton is number 30.

Rounding out their starting lineups now for the Gwinnett Heat, you've got Mikayla Stone hope their head coach the last time they were in these championships was 2010 where they lost to Atlanta Wolfpack.

They're searching for their first title.

On the flip side, West Georgia hoping for their first since 2007.

Absolutely.

And everybody wondering where Atlanta is after all those years of repeat championships.

So this this will be fun.

New blood.

Certainly new blood.

Indeed.

The last four times out here at the Gwinnett Arena, the Atlanta Wolfpack walked away with the state championship.

Now, one of these two teams, will they get their first or their second in the history?

So we shouldn't have a great day of action today out here at the Gwinnett Arena, the a.S.A.P.

Adapted sports championship, Fletcher Proctor and Leslie Sweat, and right here on the great GPB Welcome back to the Gwinnett Arena about to get underway here the adapted sports championships we've got the West Georgia Wolverines and gold and the Gwinnett Heat in white about to tip things off.

Winning the tip is going to be Doug Johnston.

He's the leading scorer.

He tips it back west.

Georgia is in control.

A few differences, Leslie, that we'll get to over the course the game.

But first off, you'll notice that we talk a little bit about how the dribbling works.

Okay.

In a wheelchair ball, a travel is is considered when you push the wheelchair more than twice without a dribble.

So you're allowed to put it in your lap, push two times.

But after that, you can't push on your chair again.

You have to dribble the ball.

All right.

Two shots up and good quickly.

That was, I believe, Sally or excuse me, that was Hutchins with the basket Lesley-Ann Hutchins, number 15, one of the co-captains, she averages about six points a game.

She's got her team up on the board early to nothing ball tossed around down the other side of the court.

It looks like it's going to be going out of bounds.

I believe that's going to stay with the West Georgia Wolverines.

You talked a little about the the traveling some you've said before this show started that some of the older kids maybe have a little more control.

You won't see them kind of put it in their lap as much, whereas some of the younger kids, you will see them take advantage of the two pushes and the dribble.

You see right here with the ball is Bryce Croxton and he's doing a pretty good job of dribbling.

Yeah, Bryce will do more dribbling with with his pushes and less putting it in his lap, whereas some of the younger kids, a little less experienced, less strength, are going to have to put the ball down in order to control their chair.

Now, Bryce Braxton, a senior at North Gwinnett High School, dishes it off, looking going right around his 23.

Martinez Johnson misses grabbing the rebound is West Georgia stolen away what's Georgia trying to gather it in looks like Martinez Johnson of Gwinnett is going to come away with it he'll kind of set things back up for the Gwinnett Heat six at coming into this contest, a big win, I believe, over Atlanta in the semifinals.

He's going going baseline.

He puts it up off the glass.

No good coming down with it is Ivey Yeah, we might.

He needs to just settle it down a little bit.

He's got a little bit of nerves going there.

Shots have been a little bit strong, but that'll come back.

You'll get that under control, a little back and forth.

Fast break.

They had the numbers.

A foul is going to be called in the back court, though.

It's going to go against Martinez Johnson.

That's his first, the senior from Buford, averaging 13 points a game.

He is Gwinnett leading scorer.

And one of the things to remember is that the wheelchair is part of the body, basically.

And so a foul can be on the chair.

It can be chair contact that causes the foul and the foul.

The replay right there showed the foul was in the back court.

And so West Georgia will start things off Bring it up is 13 Eugene Lane an interesting story from about him coming up a little bit later in the game that's Johnson hold the ball high over his head gives it up Sally and he's going in shot on the inside No good Rebound up Sally and she's tips it away I believe that foul is going to go against Steven Hobson of Gwinnett so Gwinnett is picking up a couple of fouls early on.

No free throws.

That's one of the similarities.

I would say that between adapt It sports, basketball and regular basketball is the bonus situation that they're not going to shoot free throws unless they're shooting.

That's still a certain number within reach.

Direct shot, no good rebound by crocks, Croxton And here comes Gwinnett.

He's looking to fire it gets it over to Martinez and a foul is going to be called in the back court by Eugene Lane.

We spoke with Coach MacIntyre, Richard McIntyre back on the sidelines after missing one year ago.

His son took over the duties for the last year, but and he said that Mr. Lane actually wrote a letter to our President Obama asking, Hey, I'm just as much of an athlete as is the rest of them.

Please help us out with some funding, right?

Yeah, absolutely.

It's so it's so great to see these young men and women advocating for themselves and and being willing to step up and say, you know, hey, I'm here and I need this and how can I get what I need turn over and hit the basket?

So it's going to be West Georgia's ball with about 3 minutes and 50 seconds to play here in the first period.

We say first period because there are six periods and adapt it.

Sports, basketball, it's six, eight minute periods with a continuous clock.

That's one of the differences between some of the game.

Now, you'll notice right here, talk a little bit about what's going on right here.

Now, some some people watching might be a little bit surprised to see.

Yeah, we'll see the foul right here on replay.

Yeah, it just kind of collide.

Chairs right there and taking a tumble.

Yeah, it was a foul.

And the reason why you might be surprised to see an athlete stand up and be able to walk while a lot of these athletes do are able to walk in their everyday life and they use the chairs for sport, it's a sort of a leveling tool, if you will, ready.

So it will be Gwinnett Ball after a back court violation, the Gwinnett Heat down to nothing with about 3 minutes to play here in the opening stanza.

It's going to three periods in the first half half and in three periods in the second half full of some very special guests at halftime.

So be sure to stick around for that.

Bryce Croxton, the North Gwinnett Senior, turns it over.

Ball's to be tipped out of bounds.

So I think it's going to stay at that into the floor with the Gwinnett Heat.

See Coach McIntyre's son, Rick McIntyre, who took over last year for his father while he was away from the bench.

He's really kind of a co-coach these days, is what I'm saying.

Yeah, they they've sort of had a reversal of roles in in a bit because when when Coach Mack was going with his medical issues, his son sort of took over the head coaching responsibilities and and it's remained as such even though even though Coach Mack is back as a good shot of Rick McIntyre, the the son and Co-Coach kind of try to take over for his dad a little bit.

Getting up the floor was a nice steal and now here comes Johnston, West, Georgia, by the way, is one for four from the field tonight, the lone basket coming from Lesley-Ann Hutchins.

Here's Johnston putting it up off the glass.

No good.

And Martinez grabs the board out of bounds is going to be nice save by my partner here, Leslie Sweetman.

That was a surprise.

Coming right over press row.

Good job, good hands.

Doug Johnston.

We'll toss it in, gives it up.

And you see right there, the Sally-Ann Heath has it looking for some help.

Gets it from Doug Johnston over to Eugene Lane.

It goes out of bounds.

It's going to be Gwinnett Ball.

You'll notice the cheerleaders on the sideline going to give them a big special.

Thank you very much.

COOSA High School cheerleaders coached by Amy Hill.

They've been coming here for years.

And this has been great on their part.

They're always here.

And we've also been told that if any other cheerleaders would like to to come and offer a little competition next year, they will certainly be accepted early on.

Action to nothing once Georgia leads Gwinnett here at the Gwinnett Arena, the adapted Sports Wheelchair Championships, 2012 West Georgia and Gwinnett Martinez with some fancy dribbling.

He's going to pull it up off the back iron.

No good.

40 seconds to play.

West Georgia may get one more crack at this thing in the opening period.

Fires it over Lesley-Ann Hutchins but a steal Martinez Johnson will bring it up now, waiting for his teammates to gather dribbles And you see right there he has the two pushes and then has to dribble Does a nice job looking for a take firing from the free throw line.

No good out of bounds.

He was looking for the foul instead.

It's going to stay at that in the floor with Gwinnett.

That 4 seconds 3 seconds, that might be the final play of the first period.

It will be.

So after the first period was Georgia to nothing on top of Gwinnett.

You're watching adaptive sports championships from the Gwinnett Arena on the great George Blake Broadcasting is going to make you lose your head and you just kind of get Started the second period here.

West Georgia leading the Gwinnett Heat to nothing.

West Georgia was led in that corner excuse me, in that period by Lesley-Ann Hutchins.

She had the game's lone two points early on, a great opportunity.

By number 23, Martinez Johnson misses shots, rattling around no good corral in the rebound.

It's Krystal Ivey, but there goes Johnson getting it right back for Gwinnett.

He's going to pop one up no good.

He is ferocious down there.

Leslie, with the rebound out of bounds, staying with Gwinnett.

Yeah, that's something that West Georgia's got that west Georgia get those get those boards.

Go on up there and you leave Martinez.

At some point, he's going to settle down and start start hitting all those shots.

West Georgia is going to find themselves in trouble if they don't find a way to keep the ball out of his hands a little bit.

Couple of substitutions.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention the number 44 for Gwinnett is checked in.

Ronnie Jacob, a senior from Peachtree Ridge High School.

This is his fourth year playing basketball and also checking in for West Georgia.

You have number 12, Joseph Ivey.

They call him Bubba.

And he has a sibling on the team.

In fact, going hard to the ground is Martinez Johnson, the senior from Buford.

He is going to get back up here, check out the replay here in just a second.

See right here.

He's going to go hard getting it in there.

And Douglas Johnston just kind of they they meet each other right there on the midcourt courts, right around the free throw line.

Yeah.

And as high as Martinez sits and his shares center balance is somewhat high, so that makes him a little bit more tippy than somebody like Bryce.

Number 30, I think, who is sitting a little bit lower in his chair.

Yeah.

Bryce Johnson trying to find Martinez, Johnston or Bryce Croxton, I should say, just kind of fired it away.

And Johnson, due to an issue, have arrived I guess and turnover West Georgia bald some stats from that first quarter West Georgia's out rebounding Gwinnett currently 4 to 3 and then west Georgia one for five from the field Gwinnett over four those are first period stats Douglas Johnston number 31 he goes to a manchester he's only a junior 8.4 points per game.

He was, by the way, a member of that 27 state championship squad.

Yeah.

Doug has been playing now since he was seven or eight years old.

We've watched him grow up over the years.

One of the things to remember when you're watching these athletes play is that because there is no lateral movement, no side to side movement, you know, your passes have to be much more accurate.

A block by Douglas Johnson, they're going to give it up to Ronnie Jacob number 44 Mrs. Johnson misses and getting the rebound is Johnstone quickly out on the far side to Eugene Lane Bryce Croxton is trying to provide some defense.

Putting it up is Eugene.

He misses out of bounds.

No, check that.

Saving it before it goes out of bounds Is Martinez Johnson.

You notice that Eugene is only using one arm.

He is what we would term a hemiplegia in that he has use of one side more than the other, and he's using a regular manual wheelchair, which is fairly unusual because typically an athlete who has a hemi like that would use what we call a one arm drive chair.

But Eugene grew up learning how to compensate on his own and so he just uses a regular manual chair.

Now, quickly as Gwinnett is inbounding the ball with about 4 minutes and 40 seconds to play here in the second period.

A little bit about the relationship between the GHC say, and the ASP or the American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs.

Yeah.

It's been a actually a really great relationship since 2001.

They've worked in partnership with dual governance so that our athletes with physical disabilities are able to experience the same competitive sports that they're able bodied peers do.

And there's there's sports such as handball in many of these West Georgia Wolverines, also on the 2011 handball state champion squad.

And there's football.

I believe ball is our next sport, but up is coming up as well.

That was the fifth turnover, by the way, on the Gwinnett Heat.

West Georgia also has five turnovers as well.

But there's just so many sports that it's it's great for some of these athletes that they can cross train Absolutely.

Two more points up and good that was number 15 Lesley-Ann Hutchins.

She has all four points in this contest so far.

Gwinnett takes a time out.

We'll see a quick replay, though.

Lesley-Ann Hutchins, number 15, the senior from Calloway, averaging six points a game.

She gets a little feed, a little bounce pass from Douglas Johnson just inside the free throw line.

She puts it up and good.

Here's another look.

Watch Douglas Johnston.

Just give it right to her Lesley-Ann Hutchins measures up, puts it up with the two hands and it goes down.

Lesley-Ann Hutchins, the senior by the way, 1600 on the SAT is 3.66.

She's a smart we've got some real intelligent kids out on the floor right now.

We'll talk about somebody from the Gwinnett team with with his academic achievements are pretty impressive, too.

Bryce Croxton, who scored 19 plus on the S.A.T.

and has a 3.9, I think GPA crazy high.

You see a shot right there of that Winnetka coach Mikayla Easton Hope and they are six.

No, she has been the coach, by the way, for the last four years.

Was the coach when they appeared in that 2010 championship game when they lost ultimately to the Atlanta Wolfpack.

Some stats so far for the second period, West Georgia one for two from the from the field.

Gwinnett is for six many of those shots coming very close to the rim from Martinez Johnson They just can't get the lid off the ball so far.

Yeah that that's going to have to change if they're going to stay in this game.

We haven't even seen Doug Johnston for West Georgia warm up and start shooting.

So definitely Martinez needs to figure out how to get that invisible forcefield off the off the rim there.

Here's cross and he's going to fire up.

That's no good out of bounds.

It's going to go over to West Georgia Wolverines for seven now from the stripe for Gwinnett trying to get it in and that's to Eugene is going to go out of bounds.

I think it's going to go off of Gwinnett.

However it's going to stay with West Georgia.

West Georgia.

As to baskets tonight, both came from Lesley-Ann Hutchins, the senior.

She is a member.

She does the sports like her summit.

Earlier, she was a member of that 27 basketball championship squad.

She was a member of that 2011 handball squad.

So a lot of these players play multiple sports, a steal from Hobson.

And now here comes Gwinnett trying to get their first points of the afternoon.

Another sort of neat way that GHC and the Adaptive sports program work together is that they offer through these kids high schools that they can be on their track and field team, compete in two different wheelchair track events as well as a shot put for the field.

And I believe Martinez Johnson has a couple of titles on his own.

Right.

I think you're right on track.

I believe he does.

All right.

We had a pass a few seconds ago that was over the head pass by Bruce Croxton went for not though, as they could not find the bottom of the basket turnover.

And here's another turnover coming our way again stays with Gwinnett.

We've got a minute.

55 seconds left before the end of the second period.

Remember three periods per half.

We've got six periods overall and it's a continuous clock running for nothing.

Is West Georgia over Gwinnett foul is going to go against I believe, Crystal Ivey, the ninth grader from Manchester, her brothers Bubba.

That's right.

Here's a replay of the foul right here.

You see right there just coming over Crist alive.

He just runs right in.

And she didn't quite get the right position, didn't quite get a right position on that.

Just like an able bodied ball.

You have to get in front of the your opponent, be set.

She gets in the passing lane right there, forcing a turnover.

Jump ball is going to be called.

That's going to be belonging to West Georgia with about a minute left before the end of the second.

And if anyone's wondering about the adapted sports program and sort of their their role here in the state and what they do, it's unique to the state of Georgia and really something that we can toot our own horn about because it's really not available anywhere else in the country.

They are the extra they are the they provide extracurricular and interscholastic adapted sports programs for the physically disabled youth here in Georgia, grades one through 12.

Getting it inside that ivy up that was Ivy to her brother Ivy no good.

That shot missed by lane with about 30 seconds to go getting the rebound is Gwinnett they lose it but Bryce Croxton is going to corral it The inbounds line is violated though.

It's going to go over to west Georgia.

Looks like a timeout has been called from West Georgia.

Coach macintyre asks for the time this is the clock will stop with 23.3 seconds to play here in the second period for nothing.

West Georgia on top of Gwinnett.

Now the adapted sports programs, we've talked a lot about them so far.

You said it since 2001 that they've had this partnership with the USA.

You know what?

What are some of the other statistics, though, that maybe, you know, people might say, I was not aware of that in terms of the epic sports.

Right.

The you know, the benefits for organized athletics.

There's study upon study upon study of the benefits for for young people to be involved in athletics through their schools or intramural sports or what have you.

But there for a while there, we didn't have a whole lot of research on how it would affect students with disabilities.

But the research that has come out has shown that the benefits are every bit as strong for this population.

If not stronger, then for their non-disabled peers.

Children with disabilities have three times as many days spent ill in bed, three times as many school absences of others as other children.

But we find when they participate in programs like this, all of that, all that secondary illness which is caused by a sedentary lifestyle goes by the wayside and the kids are healthier.

They get the ball inbounds.

It looks like Gwinnett has managed to rip it away quickly.

Getting up the floor.

Here's Bryce Croxton.

He's got 15 seconds to go.

He's looking to clock a break, open a layup right here.

He puts it up and that drops Bryce Broxton the first two points the afternoon for Gwinnett, 5 seconds, 4 seconds.

They're going to try to get it over, violated the line and that is going to be the end of the second period.

Gwinnett cuts the lead in half for West Georgia.

It's now four two after two periods.

And we're going to take one more look.

Here's Bryce Cross, the senior north Gwinnett coming right in 4 to 2.

That's Georgia on top.

You could part of the Jack when we get in there.

Wait, let's see.

I like started the third period here you see right there, Lesley-Ann Hutchins, a co-captain, this West Georgia Wolverines squad.

She's got all four points of her team tonight.

Here's the first basket right here.

You see her early on in the first period, putting it up and good.

And here comes another one.

Nice little bounce pass feed to her, measures it up goes off the glass that rattled in good She's got four points West Georgia leads 4 to 2 early on here in the third period That's Croxton and misses no good tipping it to a teammate.

Here comes Doug Johnston up here.

And I'm really expecting Doug Johnston maybe to try to be a little more selfish down here at these end of the floor because he averages about nine points.

A contest gives it over to a teammate.

No good Getting it back is Eugene Lane and Eugene Lane has his first point of the afternoon.

The junior from Manchester averages about eight points, a contest.

He was a member of that 27 championship squad.

And by the way, he's got a three.

very nice.

We've got a lot of real scholar athletes out there right now on the floor.

That's really impressive to see.

It's not easy to juggle as as as it is for any trial.

It's not easy to to juggle all those academics with the practices and whatnot that they're involved with.

Good look from Bryce Brogdon, No good, But he gets his own rebound and he's going to try to set things back up is senior number 30 from North Gwinnett High School.

Speaking of high GPA, 3.9, he's this is his fourth year playing basketball.

And by the way, next year he's headed to Georgia Tech.

Here's another shot of the last basket getting the rebound Is Eugene Lane putting it up with the left hand up and good You say the unfortunately can't use the right side of his body but he used the left side right there.

He's sure perfection.

It's amazing how much strength that takes, especially with him.

Only really using one arm to push cross it in and out vice crocs to trying to find the basket.

It looked like it was down, but it came back up and now he's going to try to cherry pick the steal right there.

No good.

Eugene Lane, who just scored a moment ago, feeds it inside to Doug Johnston at shot's no good underneath the basket.

He's going to give it back to a teammate who puts it up.

No good out of bounds Gwinnett Heat ball stats.

Quickly, real quick before we get in.

From the second period, West Georgia.

All right, guys, This is for the game so far, two of nine.

Gwinnett is one of 13.

Gwinnett out rebounding west Georgia, 11 to 6.

Yeah, I was going to say that Doug Johnson, 31, on West Georgia may be having a little bit of gun shy.

He it just so happens that at the at the semifinals when we were watching, he was very, very cold shooting from the floor.

And I don't know if that's in his mind, maybe a little bit.

We see he hasn't taken a lot of shots here today, getting a little bit of a screen and they feed it inside.

That's Martinez Martin is goes up and good.

The senior from Buford first points of the afternoon at 6 to 4 west Georgia on top at Gwinnett has just gotten closer Nice shot by Martinez Johnston nice back to the free him up feeding it to the inside That's the game's leading scorer Hutchins that's rejected by Croxton.

And it's going to be out of bounds.

It's going to stay at that.

ENDO with West Georgia.

Let's take a look at this.

This is the last basket.

Take a look at Martinez wide open in the lane.

He goes off the glass up and good with the right hand looking to get it in as Ivey she does to Johnston right back to Ivey a nice give and go inside they try here's ball is up in the hands of Hutchins who gives it over to lane off the basket no good And Croxton grabs the board, shoots it across though it's stolen away.

Quick give and go to Doug Doug misses it gets his rebound though puts it out the glass.

Douglas Johnston, the junior from Manchester he has two points now it's 8 to 4 north three excuse me West Georgia with 413 to play here in the first half.

And that should make him feel a little better.

The teams are loosening up and warming up, and it looks like we're getting a little better on our shots from there.

From the floor here, Hopson is going to corral the mess.

He looks to give it back over to Braxton, who the senior averages about nine points, a contest he looks very comfortable with it inside to.

Johnson just misses a lot of contact down low and coming away with it is West Georgia.

They lead 8 to 4 player who has four points of that just gives it over to a teammate out of bounds.

It's going to go to the Gwinnett Heat with 330 to play here in the third period.

Here's another shot of the last basket you see Doug Johnson misses initially grabs his own rebound, though, with the right hand, puts it up and good job for the junior.

Here's another look at it right there after the miss not deterred up and good turnovers 9 to 7 West Georgia has two more than Gwinnett so far.

Here's Croxton though looking for a lane to the basket no good now has to shuffle it out of bounds.

It's going to go off of a West Georgia Wolverine staying with the Gwinnett Heat.

3 minutes to play now.

Bryce Croxton since we're talking about him a little bit, is a great example of what what disability sport can mean for for a young man.

He was and has not always been in a chair.

He was an automobile accident that that had spinal cord injury and that's what's put him in the chair.

And he was very, very despondent after that accident.

And it was his parents tell us that it was the adapted sports program and his involvement and that that sort of brought him back out of that and brought him back to being the leader and the outstanding young man he is.

Well, he has a basket so far today.

His team has four points.

They trail 8 to 4 to West Georgia with about 2 minutes to play before intermission here.

And he's number 30.

You see him right there.

We just spoke about him, is going to bring it up.

The floor seems to be the primary ball handler, if you will, for the Gwinnett Heat.

Yeah, One of the things to remember with the different types of disabilities that you're seeing on the floor is his particular disability involves a fair amount of his trunk, which is to say, my shot is missed.

But grabbing your own rebound is Crystal Ivey out of bounds is going to stay with West Georgia.

Sorry about that.

Got distracted watching the game there.

But as I was saying, because he's got some trunk involvement, he doesn't he doesn't have the ability to reach way far out and whatnot because he can't set himself back up.

Checking into the contest, a couple of people we want to mention, Logan, like Yinka for West Georgia, as well as number 22, Derrick Clara's for Gwinnett Martinez.

Johnston is looking to try to get the ball up.

The court tipped out of bounds.

It's going to stay, though, with the Gwinnett Heat.

About a minute to play here before halftime, 8 to 4.

Your score, West Georgia on top.

We had to chase that ball down from behind the tables over here.

The officials have done a good job so far tonight, Leon Porter, Alvin Jackson and Steven Lewis, we would want to mention them.

We'll give an go between Johnson and Croxton.

Our officials are seasoned GHC officials who came to the adaptive sports program and just really liked the atmosphere and what they saw here and have have become a big part of our officiating crew.

A couple of Gwinnett Heat players tying it up between themselves.

A chair is tipped over and that was actually her teammate that caused that one.

She's going to need a little help getting up.

Her coaches are going to are going to come out.

Here's the power up.

Yeah, we'll see the last play on replay right here is the ball's kind of getting tipped around and you see right there a couple of teammates scrapping for the ball and she just kind of gets tipped over by her own teammate.

But she's up.

Everything looks okay.

And now it's going to be Fournette heat balls.

The clock was temporarily stopped.

It'll get going with about 43 seconds left.

And that's one of the one of the few things that this clock will stop for a little traffic jam is Bruce Croxton is looking to find Martinez.

Johnston is spinning around looking for a little help, gives it over about 30 to play Martinez Johnston number 23 for Martinez Johnson I should say number 23 looking to get a little bit of a pick fires it looking for Bruce Croxton cutting across the lane turnover 15 seconds to play They're going to get it quickly to Doug Johnston he's going to look so strong defense being played on both sides.

A little crowded, three, 2 seconds.

He's going to look to fire from three point range and just missed halftime here at the arena at the Adaptive Sports Championship game.

West Georgia leading the Gwinnett Heat eight two for Fletcher Proctor and Leslie Sweat, then.

Well, the second half coming up in a little bit West on top of Gwinnett, 8 to 4.

They're seeking their second title to take that top.

No, let it.

Our zappers are here.

Rockets in high Welcome back.

Inside Gwinnett Arena.

We're here to talk a little bit about adaptive sports.

And I'm joined by Christy and Laurie.

Laurie, you're the director of Special.

Ed, tell me what it's like to have a school who's involved in a special sports.

It's great to have a school involved in special sports.

Our sports teams are very active, and so it's great to have something for our kids who who need a little something different.

So it's been great.

Now, Christy, I know your son was in a car accident and was paralyzed from the chest down.

He's now able to play sports.

Tell me what that's meant to him.

It has been amazing to be geared up to play his first year of T-ball.

And then this accident happened about two weeks before that started.

And to be able to now be a part of a team where everyone is like him and there is no special exceptions made for him, he's he's a huge part of the team and we love it.

Thanks for sharing that.

On the other side here, I have Mike Emery and Alex, whose son Bryce is also on one of these teams.

Now, Mike, tell me what it's like to be able to have some of your students participate out here who might not otherwise be able to participate.

Well, it's been very exciting for Gwinnett County to be able to be part of the adaptive sports program to get these students who didn't have the opportunity to participate.

Now they can get on the court or on the field.

I think it's something that these kids never imagined nor the parents.

And you can see the excitement in the parents as much as you can with the kids.

So it's a great thrill.

Now, Alex, your son Bryce, is going to head to Georgia Tech next year.

What kind of confidence has been able to play sports done for his growth as an individual?

Well, I think he just loves playing sports.

He loves competition, and I think it has built his confidence quite a bit.

He just tackles everything in life, whether it's driving a car or just everyday life.

It just all comes together.

And that the sports program has been a great part of that.

We wish him luck next year at Georgia Tech.

All right.

Thanks so much.

All right.

That will do it from the floor.

We'll be back for the second half right after this break.

Good job.

Thank you, everybody.

And when you don't make, you lose your mind, everybody second half about to get underway here at the Gwinnett Arena.

Here are some highlights from the first half.

You've got right here.

Moving right in.

Leslie in Hutchins, she had a pair of baskets in that opening half.

That was the first two points for Leslie and Hutchins.

And here's a nice shot by Bryce.

Croxton just spoke with his father a moment ago.

Bryce Croxton headed to Georgia Tech next year, puts two points up.

And in West Georgia, Trey or excuse me, leading the Gwinnett Heat, 8 to 4.

That was a nice basket by 23, Martinez, Johnson And now we are getting ready for the fourth period.

A great shot right there.

And Lesley-Ann Hutchins, the leading scorer so far, co-captain of West Georgia.

It's 8 to 4 and we are underway.

Fletcher Proctor, along with Leslie Sweat in here at the Arena when at Center for the Adaptive Sports Championship.

I think foul is going to be called on the floor.

Interesting to see who it's going to go against.

Some foul trouble starting to creep up for a few of the players.

We've got two fouls for Johnson and 12 for Clarkson, for Gwinnett.

And I believe that that is going to go against 21 WHISTLE continuous clock.

Again, a reminder, the rules.

There are six eight minute periods in the Adaptive Sports championship.

We are in the fourth period, the start of the second half.

And the clock is moving now under 7 minutes to play.

One of the I don't know if you'd say it's a rule difference exactly, but it's the defense that's allowed in the adapted sports league is that in basketball you are not allowed to play zone.

You must play a man.

Man to man defense.

With that 10th turnover, we are now tied ten turnovers apiece for each squad so far in the contest, defense is going to lead to another turnover by West Georgia out of bounds as you just see, crystallizes per chair hit the baseline or the in-line and you see a great shot of the defense right here.

Give a lot of credit to Steven Hobson cutting off that lane as she just goes right there and touches that in my That's right her wheelchair wheel is like a able bodied athlete's foot.

So if your wheel rolls over even a portion of that boundary line, you're considered to be out of bounds.

10 seconds is the call.

And that's just like sports you'll be seeing all weekend long right there.

If you don't get it across in 10 seconds.

It is a turnover.

So you'll see right in front of us.

Douglas Johnston will get the ball in for West Georgia.

He does to a teammate that's 14, Sally and he's over and back and that's going to be another turnover going against what they're going for.

Gwinnett Yeah, that was an over and back call which is also the same as able bodied she may have been.

They may have gotten away with a little something there because she may have been pushed back.

That's getting it in bounds to Johnson right there being guarded by Johnston.

A nice little pass to the middle of the lane.

Here's Croxton up.

Allen bounces around to give two more points to Bryce Croxton three point range.

He's got four points tied for the leading honors of the contest, and that's now 8 to 6 West Georgia turnover in the back court.

You see Bryce Croxton now with the ball dribbling around and giving it over to Johnson.

So he just goes back, you see, moving it inside, putting it up off the glass.

We've got a tie game.

That was Martinez Johnson, quite the athlete.

He's got four points now.

His teammate has four points.

We're tied 8 to 8.

LESLIE Yeah, I think Gwinnett is starting to warm up here.

They're there early.

They're early.

Jitters might be gone.

They're feeling the confidence that they've had all season long and it show and in the shot, another turnover right there.

It's going to go over to the Gwinnett Heat.

Let's take a quick look now at these replays right here.

You see a nice feed going inside to Bryce Croxton.

He goes up, hits the back iron.

It was kind and it drops.

And now here's Martinez Johnson from Buford.

That's just silky smooth right there.

Some stats going.

That was two of 21 of the first half in this fourth period, two of three.

That's a big improvement.

I'm sure their coach has talked to them about that at halftime.

And hitting the ground hard is going to be Martinez Johnson, the senior from Buford 13 Points and he goes down and you see the strength involved there when he's able to flip himself back up while still strapped to the chair.

Some upper body strength there.

We mentioned earlier Martinez Johnson there, Johnson, he won the 200 meter and the 800 meter on the track team.

Remind us again about how they can compete on the track squad as well.

Absolutely.

Any any athlete who is in Georgia High School, it's a participating member of GHC is eligible to be on their regular high school track team.

And when they go to their regular track meets, they will add If there's any athletes there and chairs that want to compete, they will add wheelchair events to the regular races.

They compete separately from the from the kids who are running on their feet.

Obviously, the wheelchair races are separated out.

And at the end of the season, if you're in the top, I'm not sure what it is.

Maybe six in the state.

You get to go to the state championships for track.

That was a foul a few moments ago on Brittney Wetzel.

That was her second.

Now you're going to see Stephen Hobson pick up his first foul.

So we've got a couple of players with a few fouls now for the Gwinnett Heat.

And that's interesting because a very limited bench, just seven players for the Gwinnett Heat who come into this game six no for McKayla.

I still hope.

Yeah, they'll have to be careful on that because any foul out by their big by their seniors is going to is going to hurt a lot of a shot up and no good by Eugene Lane and coming up the floor quickly now is Martinez Johnson from Buford one of those seniors We alluded to the control he just showed right there when he cut inside.

It looks looks simple enough from us sitting over here on the sidelines.

But if you've ever gotten in a chair and tried to control your chair like that, it's so difficult to do.

You see the athletic ability right there of Johnson?

He had a nice feed to that.

He just could not finish, could break.

He has four points, though.

They quickly get out to Florida.

Bubba, Bubba Ivey, just short getting the rebound, though, and putting it up And that one is good set is 15.

Leslie and Hutchins, she now has six points to lead West Georgia lead all scores.

They take the 10 to 8 lead.

Yeah, that's the senior show in the youngster.

How we do it.

Bryce Croxton now makes a nice move to go around.

Douglas Johnston looking to try to get some help on the inside.

He's going to put one up off the glass and that's good.

He goes glass and up and good and he gives his teammates some credit for the for the clear and very nice old school.

I like that using the backboard now see kids do that much anymore.

The bank is open apparently here at the Coconut Arena.

And this is Doug Johnston.

Now, this is the second time, the fourth period, by the way, they get it over to Eugene Lane.

And Lane is now going to take it with that left hand looking for some help.

Spins around, trying to find the inside, some nice defense being played and tipped away though getting it back is Bubba Bubba on the inside the Johnston Johnston off the glass two points for Doug Johnston.

He's got four now.

Very nice.

He's waking up.

He's feeling better.

I say we've lost the ball picked up by Bryce, Croxton and Croxton will look for a little bit of help.

He finds it in the form of Fournette teammates Martinez, Johnston, Johnston spinning around some nice defense, gets a little bit of a I guess you would call that a screen foul is going to be called that's going to go against 13 I believe.

Eugene Lane.

Here's the basket you'll see right here as they get it inside.

To Douglas Johnston right here, a nice little feed from Bubba.

So give Bubba Ivey the credit for the assist and give Doug Johnston his third and fourth points.

It's now 12 to 10, where under a minute to play here in the fourth period, they quickly look to get out the floor.

They're going to maybe give it back.

Doug Johnston inside to Bubba Ivey.

Ivey tries to go off the rim no good.

Johnston grabs the board.

He puts it up and good.

You're absolutely right, Leslie.

Doug Johnston is heating up.

He's got six points now.

Well, that's exciting to see the points start to go up on the board.

We know they're capable of that.

Nice.

Steal a steal.

He puts it up no good, but gets his own miss and puts it up.

He's on fire right now.

He's got six points this period.

It's now 16 to 10.

West Georgia trying to pull away from Gwinnett.

A little bit of time out, called with 12.6 to play here in the fourth.

This right here is the basket to make it 1410.

They dump it on the inside to Ivey no good but Johnston gets the rebound puts it off the glass Good And here he gets right back defensively coming away with it taking it away from Johnson and Johnston after he misses initially off the glass good six Nothing run by the way the last minute 17 seconds for West Georgia.

Well, I venture to say that Mr. Johnston's confidence problem has gone bye bye and he's ready to play now, getting A little bit of coaching up there from the assistant coach, Rick MacIntyre.

By the way, his dad has been the coach for ten years here at West Georgia.

I believe he has one national championship game appearance and he's taken his squad to multiple state championships, appearance appearances, including last year when the Sun had to fill in as the father was away from the bench.

That's right, Coach Mack, the father that is, had some health issues.

We're more proud to report that he's doing much better now, although he has allowed his son, Rick, to remain in as the head coach position, which is interesting.

Some stats here in the fourth period, if you want to give those.

All right.

We've got West Georgia, four of eight, four of eight from the field in Gwinnett, three of five, three of five.

And the one player hits the deck.

And with one second, she's going to try to put it up.

No good.

And that's going to be the end of the fourth period.

Two more periods to come.

West Georgia seeking their second state title.

It's 16 to 10.

West Georgia, over top of the Gwinnett Heat.

We'll be back in Gwinnett Arena on GPB.

We just want to say that Start of the fifth period here at the Arena, Gwinnett Center, 6 to 10 West Georgia, on top of the Gwinnett Heat and an immediate steal off the inbounds play.

The Gwinnett Heath coming away with it is Martinez Johnson.

He has four points so far in this contest.

Gets a nice screen going right to the basket, putting it up with the right hand.

No good, but corral the rebound immediately as Gwinnett.

They miss a shot and here comes Doug Johnson.

He heat it up Leslie, inside that fourth period.

He sure did.

And that bet went a long way towards that score.

Gwinnett finds themselves behind West Georgia now, having already beat them once in the regular season, Out of bounds is going to go over to the Gwinnett Heat.

This is the fifth period and the clock is moving.

We are under seven and a half to play here in the fifth period.

Just another quick reminder, it is a continuous clock.

They will stop it for timeouts as well as if a player's chair gets tipped over.

But the clock is continuously moving.

It does.

So it just keeps rolling and rolling and rolling.

A couple of subs coming in quickly.

Ronnie Jacob for the Gwinnett Heat.

Leslie Yeah, you may have noticed that sometimes they stop the action when a player falls out of their chair and sometimes they don't.

That is because if the player is not hurt and is not in danger of the action coming back to them, they will allow them to get up on their own without stopping play.

Eugene Lane is going to put it up in good.

That's two more points for Eugene Lane.

The junior from Manchester High School averages about eight points, a contest.

He has four so far that stretches this west Georgia lead to 1810 over Gwinnett.

Yeah, over the years of watching West Georgia play.

You know Eugene I think used to be ignored by teams because he was so small and didn't really have the strength to shoot well.

But boy, he's grown up and the strength in that one good arm is is really impressive.

Not even seeing him hit threes is just an eight run right now for the West Georgia Wolverines Coach MacIntyre Both coaches MacIntyre have to be loving the effort that they've put out there, the unselfishness and that they've been able to get this lead.

Martinez Johnson grabs the nets, puts it up that's no good, gets the rebound, foul is going to be called and I think we may get to see our first free throw attempts of the afternoon at half time.

Okay, Here's another basket right here.

We'll see here in just a sec.

This is Eugene Lane getting it going all the way down, stopping his chair with the left hand, putting it up and good.

Now, on the free throw in for wheelchair ball, what you'll see is that the shooter is allowed to have their front casters over the free throw line.

What matters is their rear wheel.

Their rear wheel, where it touches the floor cannot be on or over that line.

The athletes who are lining the lane have to have all four wheels behind the line first free throw is just off to the left for Martinez Johnson.

He came into this game four of six from the free throw line this season.

He's got one more coming as they try to chip away into this lead.

That one is up and good lot of upper body strength right there from Martinez Johnson you mentioned a moment ago it's a surprisingly difficult shot to make when you're seated in a chair without the of the chair.

Moving takes quite a bit of strength to be able to make that shot.

Some tight defense being played in the back court.

They're going to get it up.

This is Eugene Lane though.

He's going to find a little bit of resistance before he gives it over.

Loose ball being picked up now by Gwinnett.

That's Hobson.

He gets it over to Bryce Croxton.

Croxton goes off the glass and that's two more points.

Bryce Croxton, He now has eight for the game and the score is being trimmed away.

It's now 18 to 13.

It's turning into a very competitive game.

Fun to watch, fun to see a little bit of a team effort.

Their defense, they get it across the timeline, though, to Leslie and Hutchins.

Hutchins has six points.

Ball's loose on the ground, out of bounds.

It's going to stay at that in the floor with 522 to play in the fifth with West Georgia.

Here's another shot of that last basket.

Hobson is going to find Bryce Crocks and cross.

He's going to go off the glass and it's good.

Nice shot.

Here's another angle.

Bryce Croxton, That's good, solid effort right there.

He's got a nice little shot with the right hand.

Yeah, he definitely does.

He's come a long way from his from his first years playing where, you know, he had to try to do a dab, but he was used to playing on his feet and then he had to learn to play on a chair.

So there's a big difference and it takes quite a bit of adjustment when you don't have your legs to help push the ball and you don't have the lateral movement so that you can adjust to the bucket like you'd like to it.

You're staying a little bit of foul trouble to keep an eye on.

LESLIE That's the third foul on 23.

Martinez Johnson he's a big member of this team.

He and Croxton seem to have a kind of a little give and go Stockton to Malone type action right there.

That would be a big loss for going out.

If he fouls out, it certainly would.

He'll have to be careful on that front.

And I'm sure his coaches are probably going to be in his ear about that, especially because he's also very active on the defensive end of the floor as well.

So turnover, it's going to be Gwinnett Ball and again, we see just how active he is.

He forced that Miss Shot right there and now he's going to bring up the floor along with Crossman.

So Bryce, proximity about 4 minutes to play here in the fifth period he's going to find a little bit of resistance from Leslie and Hutchins has to spin around.

It's a big inside just off the back iron.

No good Nice little clinic he was putting on there about how to handle your chair and Doug Johnston getting it up the floor, guarded by Martinez Johnson, looking for a little bit of help find some in the form of Bubba Bubba defense out of bounds tipped away by Hobson It's going to be West Georgia Ball you hear the coach is calling out some defensive assignments as they Hopson is quickly trying to find his man again.

He said they play man to man defense their two and one other rule difference that when you're inbounding the ball in your own offensive court when the ball is being presented to the in bounder none of that none of the inbound his teammates may be in the lane now that's a that's a rule that's unique to wheelchair sports ball tipped the way out of bounds it's nice effort right there by Bubba Joe Ah Ivy Bubba Joseph that's right right there as he he actually knocks it off of the net he player so give a lot of credit to the Bubba Ivey right there You got about 3 minutes to play here in the fifth period it's 18 to 13 West Georgia on top of Gwinnett.

Six periods will decide a champion here today.

And here's Doug Johnson, who got hot and leads all scorers with eight points try to go down on the inside.

Martinez Johnson steals the ball away.

He's going to drive right around and look for a little bit of help, try to take it down.

The court needs some help.

That's some fierce defense to get that ball away and now you see what's Georgia ripping in time.

They just got it over under the 10 seconds.

That was close.

Martinez Johnson gets it after it was assisted by Ronnie Jacob Croxton, puts it up no good can.

Hopson grabbed the rebound.

He does, but he goes out of bounds in the process so it'll be west Georgia ball with a five point lead here in the fifth period.

Now that was an example there when Martinez went down in his chair that they they allowed that play to continue because he wasn't in danger.

All right.

Bring it the floor now.

The number 15, Leslie and Hutchins, she has six points, I should say four points in the first half, had a big effort, turnovers going to give the ball back to the Gwynedd heat.

Yeah it was an over in back her front casters just went back over the the halfcourt line Great shot right there it Lesley-Ann Hutchins the senior from Calloway with that 366 GPA and now here it comes Bryce Croxton headed to Georgia Tech finds Martinez Johnson on the inside.

Johnson stands up and the play is going to be stopped right there as he just left his chair momentarily.

The exploit.

Leslie, can you explain one more time the when they leave their chair, what happens?

Right.

Well, basically, it's a violation.

You're not allowed to put your feet, your hands on the blank surface of the floor.

You certainly not allowed to stand up.

And while you might be surprised to see a player stand up like that, understand that, for example, and Doug Johnson's case, his disability is in his shoulders, his legs are affected.

And that right there, Johnston, The reason he stood up is because I think he was about to he had to face plant.

That's right.

Because he was tipped and it was stand up or fall down.

And since he was able to stand up, he chose that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So as I believe them, they get the ball up the court looking to find it down low.

That's Bubba Ivey stolen away and here it comes up the other side.

That's Teacher Douglas.

It's another turn over 18.

Now for West Georgia on the game They get up two hops and Hobson is going to fire it up off the glass trying to find his first points of the afternoon.

No good Johnson grabs the rebound.

Foul is going to be called down low with under a minute to play as you see Johnson is on the floor needing a play tips himself back over we're going show the replay the foul right here.

That's the third foul by the way, on Eugene Lane you see right there, just gets tipped over and kind of bump from behind.

Now, seconds to play.

Johnson trying to find a little bit of help tipped around out of bounds.

Staying at that on the floor though with the Gwinnett Heat 1813 under 30 to play here in fifth period, we've got ourselves what looks to be a very exciting sixth and final period coming up.

Leslie.

Absolutely.

I'm excited to see how we're going to do this in good defense by Doug Johnson there, 31 on West Georgia about that ball Back out of bounds.

Yeah, the junior from Manchester.

Just an intimidating force when it comes to inbounding the ball 10 seconds left Here's Ronnie Jacob Jacobs going to put one up off the glass that's going to spin all the way around.

No good tipping it out in a way.

And that's going to be timeout actually is going to be called.

So they're going to have one final shot here in this excuse me in the fifth period.

See what they can do if they try to fire one from Johnson is going to pull one out from deep no good and that's going to be the end of the fifth period.

One more period to go here at the arena down at center West Georgia, seeking their second GHC adapted sports championship.

They won 1207.

They're looking for another one in 2012.

We'll see if they can finish it off here on the break.

GPB television.

I just want to celebrate.

started the sixth period that your shot right there is Doug Johnston, the junior from Manchester.

He has really over this game, Leslie, here in the second half that he has.

And I believe we're going to see a couple of the shots that he that he rattled off three in a row there, this next one with a nice steal before he puts it back in the.

Yeah, two points in the first half.

He has six here in the second half, eight for the contest and four fouls.

It should be noted for a little bit of foul trouble for Martinez Johnson some stat so far in the contest Leslie you've got West Georgia 28% from the field, nine of 32.

Gwinnett is six of 35 for 17%.

West Georgia has turned it out here a little bit.

LESLIE And Hutchins picks up the foul right there and you see inbounding it and taking the ball is Bryce Croxton crossing It's a nice feed a little open lane to the basket.

He's going to put it up with two hands.

No good finding it around out of bounds off of West Georgia.

So it's going to stay at that on the floor and a little bit of hesitation there on that shot cost him as so in 14, I believe she is from West Georgia, was able to come over and play a little defense on that time.

Now it's going to be called by Rick McIntyre of the West Georgia Wolverines early on here in the sixth period, it's 1813, West Georgia, on top of the Gwinnett Heat.

You see a shot of Mikayla east on Hope.

This is her fourth year as head coach.

She's got good a six no record so far this season.

And on the other side for the West, Georgia Wolverines, Richard McIntyre, his 10th year and that's is his son Rick McIntyre, who really kind of took over the program from his dad last year when they when the senior McIntyre was forced to miss the championship game.

And Rick McIntyre fell last year in the championship to the Atlanta Wolfpack, he's trying to win the first one this year.

Yeah, this will feel a little bit like vindication for them, I'm sure, because they really wanted win last year.

Atlanta was just too strong there, Richard, and Rick's father and son really more co-coaches at this point.

We've been told by by the staff there at the West Georgia Wolverines.

So they're five and one trying to go six and one in out of state championship.

But we've got 7 minutes and 20 seconds to play here.

The sixth and final period as we all decide in a adapted sports wheelchair, champion Croxton finds it has to spin around looking for Johnson.

A nice pass holds it high over the head, two points up and good Croxton right to Johnson went the field nowhere he was that was a beautiful pass.

Johnson now has seven points.

He averages about 13 per contest as he brings him to within three points.

It's 1815 West Georgia on top under seven to play.

They get it across the time line.

That's up to number 14.

Keep We're in the middle of the five oak net run FBI turnover.

It's going to go over to the Gwinnett Heat.

Here's a shot of another of the last Gwinnett basket.

See a nice pass by Croxton over to Johnson.

Johnson holds it high over the head and is patient putting it up and good absolutely that's you know in wheelchair basketball there's no real other than your reach because you you can't jump so that's an advantage foul the back court that's going to go against number one Crystal Ivy the freshman from Manchester her second foul and they're going to be a one in one situation.

So here's where the clock will stop, correct?

Correct.

It will stop for the foul shot.

So they're in one and one on the seventh foul and they go two two shots on the 10th foul.

Just like the GHC rules, Bryce Croxton will go to the line where he is three of five on the season for a one and one.

And again, just a reminder, the front wheels can be over, but the back wheels had to be behind, correct?

Leslie That's correct.

For the shooter and the shooter enter the lane until the ball has touched rim or backboard.

But the the folks lining the lane can actually enter as soon as the shot lifts the shooter's hands missed free throw, but he manages to steal it away, does Croxton.

And now Gwinnett maintains possession and will spin around Will Martinez Johnson is playing with four fouls looking for a good opportunity, gives it over to Croxton Bryce finding a little bit of trouble getting a shot off so he will set things back up, gets a nice move around trying to find Martinez.

Maybe he'll get it up to the top of the key and the three second lane violation that you're used to watching for in and able bodied basketball is the same here in wheelchair ball.

Martinez thought about firing instead will look for a little bit of screen from Croxton.

I kind of backed up a little bit, hoping to get in a little tighter.

I think he's got an open lane to the basket.

If he wants to put it up, he will put it up in and out.

No good.

That's the second one I count from Johnson, where it's been all the way down but has come right back up and they're going to give it over 80.

Here's Lane and run back and you may notice that I'm sorry no how you get to Johnson talk a little bit about you may think that you would want to call a double dribble, but that's not the case, correct?

Leslie?

That's correct, because the athletes are allowed to put the ball in their lap while they push light.

Similarly, they can hold it so they can push twice, dribble, push twice, dribble, or they can hold it continuously, dribble, stop, and then begin their dribble again.

There is no double dribble and wheelchair basketball and going back to kind of explain Leslie Sweat meant the traveling quote unquote is if you push it three times because you can put the ball in your lap, push twice.

But after you do that, you have to dribble, correct?

Absolutely.

That's correct.

So no double dribble, really.

Right.

And then the traveling is if you push maybe three times.

Exactly.

All right.

So going looks like another one in one situation is that was the eighth team foul on West Georgia go in line will be 23 Martinez Johnson where he's one of two for the game he's got seven so far in the contest dribbling with the right hand.

He's going to put it up and that's nothing but the bottom of the net right there.

Two of three so far.

That's a pretty shot, isn't it?

It is.

He's got one more.

He's earned the and one just for where he'll go to the line is now clock is stopped with 458 to play in the six it's 1816 West Georgia on top of Gwinnett triples with the hand puts it up just short out of bounds and it's going to go immediately over to the west.

Georgia Wolverines.

in the middle of his six nothing Gwinnett run can West Georgia respond They've got the two point lead right now so it's going to be that's a foul.

We'll see who that's on 31 that was on 30 Bryce Clarkson and that's going to be his first foul.

So Bryce Clarkson has played a pretty clean game so far, not picking up his first down until about four and a half to play here in the sixth period.

Jean Lane gets bumped, manages to correct himself out of bounds and it's going to be Gwinnett Ball.

And again, they did not stop the play right there because he was able to put himself back in the chair, correct?

That's right.

And unlike his his teammate who stood completely up, which is basically a violation in his case, he was trying to keep himself from falling out.

So he put his foot on the floor.

That's actually allowed.

It's not a violation so long as he's not in possession of the ball.

When he does it, Bryce Clarkson will get it back over to Johnson.

Stolen away, though a nice play, but take it right back by Douglas.

And now here comes a mad scramble for the ball all the way the other end of the floor and it's going to go back to the heat.

The heat here at the Gwinnett Arena.

Yeah, we've got some some fumbling fingers out there right now.

They're having a little trouble holding out of that ball Wonder somebody grazed it between periods when they get into Martinez, Johnson and Johnson will bring it up the floor.

We've seen crocks and bringing up a large portion of the afternoon.

But Johnson now bring it up.

He's going to look for a little bit of help.

He's going to find some there's his teammate number 30 gets a pick That's a nice little screen from Clara's clearance.

The sixth grader from Lilburn Middle School out there with some of the older team are some of the older players on his team.

It's going to be a foul believe is going to go against Joseph Bubba Ivy from Manchester medal number 12 little cheer foul there.

Derek Claro is the sixth grader also in the high school choir was number 22 for the Gwinnett Heat.

You see him kind of up back near the back line.

Going line is 23.

You see Clara's in the background there, 23 steps to the line.

Martinez Johnson, he is two of four so far.

Free throws up.

That is no good.

Tipped around.

Johnson is going to get the rebound lose it at West Georgia is going to come away with it tipping around though still to come and worth it it's Johnson Johnson's got a chance to tie with about 3 minutes to play up off the glass tie ballgame 18 with 3 minutes to play here the sixth one arena that's ten points now for Martinez Johnson.

He averages 13 a game.

So it's not all that uncommon to see him explode for points.

that's for sure.

He's been one of their primary offensive weapons for sure.

an eight run right now by Gwinnett eight Ryan ten West Georgia's been pretty cold here they have not scored in the sixth period.

Can they get something going?

Clarios stops the ball from going out of bounds but his wheel, I believe, was on the in line keeping the ball at that on the floor with about two and a half to play for west Georgia.

Interestingly enough as we'll see the look to the previous basket tipped away.

Here's Johnson he'll end up tying the ballgame.

Doug Johnson is getting a rest.

If you see Martinez take the lead over in terms of points scored from Mr. Johnson.

Yeah that's an interesting move.

I don't know if Doug Johnson's in some foul trouble right now, maybe just giving him a rest for the final stretch could be turnover.

It's going to be no turnover.

Instead, they're going to pick it up.

And now here comes Ivey.

Ball's underneath their chair.

Now the officials will stop the clock as her chair just went right over the ball.

Is that a jump ball situation in this case, ultra possession?

Yes, actually, it is.

In that case, it becomes a safety issue.

They wanted to blow a quick whistle and use the possession hero in order to keep her safe.

And really unfortunate for West Georgia because they had a pair of players down there trying to maybe try to take the lead with about a minute 50 to play here in the sixth period.

Yep, that's for sure.

A little bit of trouble now for Johnson.

The ball tipped away from Ivey by Ivey and coming up with it is 14 Salley in his third tie the ball game as we're all knotted up at 18 with 90 seconds to play here's some Jean Lane this is it back up easily in here.

He's trying to go inside tied up by Brice.

Here's Clarios Now he's racing down the floor.

Clarisse is going to lose it, picks it up, trying to get it out of bounds.

Referee's Consulting, Leon Porter, Alvin Jackson, Stephen Lewis.

Trying to figure out who gets it.

It's going to be West Georgia Ball.

So we are about 65 seconds remaining and Johnson Johnson, I should say, is still on the bench for West Georgia and giving given a little bit of a breather here dribbling around his Salley and he'll tie ball is called that's going to stay with west Georgia does a nice job by Brice Cross the cross and their child that up heads up play there by the Steelers headed to Georgia Tech next year He's got a39 GPA so of course he's heads up they get it on the inside now tipped away jump ball is called that's going to give it back to the Gwinnett Heat.

That's a little bit of a mystery to me why Doug Johnson is still not in unless he's fouled out and we missed it.

I don't know.

Unless he was injured.

Perhaps he was injured.

I'm not sure if Johnson has four fouls, does number 31, Johnston.

And so he's out there right now.

We'll see tipped away possession is going to give it back to West Georgia.

So it's kind of jump ball jump ball jump ball, jump ball.

And Bryce Croxton is heads up when he sees them put the ball in the lap of really puts his hand over there forcing the tie up Mark nice little bit of defense there that was going to be a nice pass into Lesley-Ann Hutchins But Martinez, 23, Gwinnett, he was able to tip it away.

Timeouts are going to be called by Gwinnett.

So with about 33 seconds remaining, I believe it will West Georgia ball on the far sideline but the coach wanted one quick time out maybe we have four time we have four fouls for Mr. Johnston.

Douglas Johnston, he has eight points on the game.

He fell out with five.

Is that correct?

Correct.

You're adapted sports on your fifth, just like in regular Johnson right there you see him right there the safety at the junior for Manchester.

He's trying to tell the coach put me in I want to play and the coach is maybe saying if we go to overtime I want you fresh try to save him up a little bit.

Give it a little more of a breather right there and see what we can do.

So maybe Doug Johnston, who was a member of that 27 wheelchair basketball championship squad, he also has a handball championship to his name and he was a member for the National Wheelchair Soccer Champions.

How about that 2004 on the JV, he won himself a national soccer championship.

That's amazing yeah that's that's exciting play.

It's great that they have an opportunity to compete at that level now that's that's something that leads to so much personal growth.

All right so the crews the cheerleaders are cheering on both of these teams.

We're tied up with 30 seconds to play here in the sixth and final period at 18 West Georgia, 18 trying to get the ball on the inside tipped away and coming worth that is Clara's and shots and now 20 seconds to go and that is a foul is going to go against Krystal Ivey in the back court sending Johnson to the line and I believe that is the is that the 10th team foul that's going to be two shots.

Yep and that I think she was worried that he was going to get in front and then because he's so quick in his chair and there was they don't have Doug Johnston 31, out on the floor to help them.

Defensively I think she was afraid he was going to get was going to get away and he did a an open shot.

She tried to cut him off right here and tip the ball away, but a little too much contact with the chairs.

And so Martinez Johnson will go to the line.

He has ten points.

He is the leading scorer for two shots here with 16 3 seconds to play in the sixth period.

First free throws up.

That one is off.

No good.

He's got one more coming.

So a lot of pressure on this young man.

Let's see how he holds up.

Johnson has five points this period.

Can he get number six to give his team the lead tied at 18 free throw up and no good tipped.

It looks like Gwinnett will corral it and get it back to John Bell.

They find Croxton right there.

Bryce puts it up no good.

HOBSON Is going to push it out of bounds with 5 seconds to play and that's going to give believe West Georgia one final crack.

If they can get it down and fling it.

That's a technical I'm not sure if you're aware of that.

Yes, it's going to be tough without Doug Johnson out there to pull that off, tips it out of bounds.

And they've got to be careful as well to not send the line.

That's the end of the sixth period.

We're tied up 18, 18.

We'll go to a seventh period.

This is exciting.

We've got 5 minutes to play Gwinnett West, Georgia.

So go into overtime.

You know, the great GPB, it's I'm telling you, I just want to celebrate.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And now the Taliban, you see a picture right there of Doug Johnston, the junior from Manchester West, Georgia.

The officials have four fouls, but the official score keeper has five.

Therefore, he is fouled out of the game.

That's why he's not in there.

What we think might have happened is earlier when we saw him stand up out of his chair, we discussed the fact that we thought that was a violation.

It may have gotten reported as an additional foul so that the official table, the official books at the table having that five fouls and we only had him at four.

So I'm not sure what they've determined or if they have as to how that's going to come down whether he has truly fouled out or whether that was a mistake at the table.

Well they're consulting now.

Fletcher Proctor and Leslie Sweat and trying to get this.

That's the reason for the delay.

Quickly, we'll go over they're going to call it the fifth foul.

I guess when he stood up, that was another violation and foul.

There.

5 minutes for the overtime, continuous clock.

That's right.

With a few exceptions of the stoppage for if the chair tips over or a free throw or a timeout.

That's right.

We re tip it just like we started the game with a jump ball will tip it again and they'll play for 5 minutes.

I have to feel like there's an awfully big advantage for Gwinnett though, with Doug Johnston already out of the game.

We'll see.

And Hopson gets it, corrals it in.

He's looking for a teammate, Johnson with four fouls.

That's something to keep an eye as well.

Yep.

And Croxton, they've been kind of a two person game here for Gwinnett.

They have all of their points so far.

You've got 18 to 1810 for Johnson and eight for Croxton.

Yep.

Now, Martin is Johnson.

Martin is Johnson, I should say, who is out there 23 four going.

It is because of his height, such a huge advantage.

He can sit and hold that ball up over his head.

And without Johnston out there, there's really nobody to contesting.

They get the ball quickly at the court to Eugene Lane.

Eugene Lane has four points tonight.

He's looking for a couple of more with 4 minutes to play here in overtime.

We spent six periods trying to decide a champion we could not.

We are now in our seventh period.

This is overtime tipped away.

It's going to be clarus as well as here comes Johnson now to try to scoop it up.

he's out of his chair.

They have not stopped play just yet.

Now they're going to stop and I believe the clock will stop as well.

Yes, it should.

As they pick up, as if some coaches ought to come and help him.

But I think that maybe he's getting tired and so he's getting a little help up.

But you see the replay here where his wheels.

Yeah, his wheelchair rolled up over the ball, which is interesting because I was just going to say earlier that there is a technique to picking a free ball up when you're in a wheelchair using your you come up beside the beside the ball instead of in the front of it like he did.

Yeah.

If you go over the front, you tip.

So if you come up by the side, you can pull it up using your wheel.

And Martinez Johnson has had a great game.

You see right here he goes off the glass for some points early.

He's done a great job of finding other teammates here.

That's just up and silky smooth.

He gets a nice pass from Croxton, from Bryce, and he puts it up.

That's two more points.

Martinez Johnson averages about 13.

You see him take it away on defense.

He's he's good on offense.

He's good on defense.

Taking it away, standing up as they get his chair situated.

He's going to be able to sit back down and stay in the game.

He was initially holding his fingers as well.

I wonder if maybe they when he was on the floor, maybe got rolled over.

That's something to keep an eye on as well.

For number 23, Martinez Johnson, the senior from Buford.

Yeah, I'm sure if they'll let him stay in, though, I'm sure he'll stay and keep fighting because he doesn't look to be hurt too badly.

He's going to strap back in as he's getting word from the official.

You see his coach is working to get his lower straps down on his feet.

Strapping is allowed and in fact, encouraged and in wheelchair basketball to help keep the athletes properly positioned in their wheelchair, which makes them more efficient when they're pushing and shooting.

The coaching staff at the Gwinnett Heat.

McKayla I stone hope the head coach also her assistance.

Lynn Boudreau and Lynnette Swanson out.

They're the assistant coaches We've gone over for West Georgia.

Rick McIntyre really more of a co-coach now with his dad.

Richard McIntyre's been on the bench for ten years.

So with about 3 minutes and 49 seconds to play here in the seventh period, our first overtime period looks like everybody's ready to go.

They will have to bring someone, I believe, for Johnson because he was injured.

Yeah, I think they might be looking to it.

He was working on that finger.

Perhaps I guess he might have.

Maybe he's bleeding, perhaps, and they need to cover that up.

Yeah, I'm surprised that they're not.

There they go.

I think maybe now they've put someone in there and checking in will be number 21.

Brittney Wetzel.

You see a shot right?

Of of what's happening.

You see a little bit of blood around the fingernail.

I think that's where she maybe got rolled over there when he was on the ground.

And so they're going to get it in there, trying to get it to Bryce Broxton.

He does pick it up before it hits the other end line, making a move.

So he's without his partner out there.

The other person that's done all the scoring.

So it's going to be maybe the on him gets a nice screen looking for a little bit of trouble three on one slapped around out of bounds.

I think it's going to stay at that on the floor.

And are they going to say that he's been checked out enough?

It's like they're going to slap him back in.

And they were getting a little bit.

He did not officially hit the scorers table.

Now he has said now he's going to be checked in just kind of we're letting the pictures talk for you for a second as he had to go all the way over and tap the score to let her know that he would be coming in and make it official.

Stepped away as they were trying to inbounds it.

Douglas has it tipped away she'll look to fired it again they do they get into Clarkson is stolen away though by 14 he's and now she will bring it the floor for west excuse me four of west Georgia right up the court take it away and Douglas rips away.

Here's Martinez now Martinez looking to get all of his teammates across the line so he could try to set something up.

Gets a nice little screen on the back side, off the glass, two points.

Good.

Nicely done.

He's got 12.

They've got their first lead in a wild 2018 Gwinnett on top of West Georgia.

That is a ten zero run now for the Gwinnett Heat.

They have taken the lead in overtime.

Eugene Lane had a little trouble finding somebody inbound there to see It led to the turnover.

As great as his play was by Martinez Johnson.

Watch the effort by Steven Hobson to kind of clear out a little space for them to go along, to cut right to the basket.

He does two points off the glass.

Good.

Douglas attempts the shot.

No good.

He gets the rebound.

This run started, by the way, with 606 left in the sixth period.

And it has been all Gwinnett since that.

It was 18 to 13 in the fifth or he a 6 to 10 in the fourth period the end of the fourth period it was 18 to 13.

At the end of the fifth, the defense is stepped up for the Gwinnett Heat that they have.

And it's not not been hampered by the fact that Doug Johnson, who is on the West Georgia Team 31, having fouled out with quite a bit of game left to play and then into the overtime period, it was six three excuse me, it was 18 to 10 with 606 to play in the sixth period.

And it since it has been all Gwinnett, just one basket.

Did they score, did West Georgia score in that between the fifth and sixth period combined.

It was it's just been a defensive effort by coach AI Stone hopes squad that it has and they have done a great job It's a combination really of of of Croxton managing to tie up seemingly whenever they put the ball in there on their lap and also Johnson doing a good job of altering shots like you were saying sitting up high in the chair explained to us one more time when you say how he's able to sit up by the chair, it's because of, I guess, the different injuries that are there.

That's correct his.

He doesn't have any trunk involvement with his injury.

It's not actually an injury.

He has cerebral palsy, which is congenital from birth.

And it affects his whole body.

But his lower extremities are affected more than his upper extremities, which we refer to as being depleted.

So his trunk really isn't involved.

He's got perfect sitting balance so he can sit much higher with a low back on his chair and still be stable.

Another steal by and taking it away, getting it up the floor quickly as Johnson Johnson will look for a teammate.

Instead he's going to pop it himself off the glass.

No good rebound by Heath.

They give it up to Eugene Lane and Lane's going to nearly lose it on the outside.

Hobson And grab it instead and look for a teammate one minute remaining.

Nice job to avoid that boundary line by Hobson because I thought for sure he was headed out there.

We're now approaching 60 seconds to go here in overtime.

Johnson's to put it up.

No good.

Grab the rebound is Ivy and she's going to find another teammate.

They get it quickly up the floor.

Croxton playing some more great defense under.

A minute to play Yeah he really has it's it's hard for Jingliang Lang to make the the the positional changes that he needs to make because he's got one arm he's got to drive is trying to dribble and do everything with that one arm which makes it a little tough on him.

And he's done a phenomenal job so far tonight for points he averaged about eight per contest, but he's done a nice job again of playing some defense, using his chair as kind of a deterrent at some point.

And Eugene Lane, number 13, you see him right there on your screen, has done a pretty good job tonight on All Things Considered.

His team down by two points.

That's right.

And he'll be back.

He's a junior, is he not?

He is.

He's only a junior.

Several players will be back for next year.

Doug Johnson is only a junior.

He fouled out of this contest earlier.

According to the scorers table, with five fouls, they'll lose Lesley-Ann Hutchins, who started this game off on fire with two points in the first half, and then Joseph Ivey, only a sixth grader.

A lot of talent.

That's a lot of young talent, I should say.

If this was Georgia here for sure.

Now this Gwinnett squad is they've I believe they've got three seniors out there, Martinez Johnson, Ronnie Jacob who we've seen out there a little bit, number 44, and then Bryce Croxton, who will go on to Georgia Tech next year of three, a trio.

I'm sure they'd like to have a state championship for their graduation present.

And then we might have one of those rebuilding years, as we like to call them.

And no doubt that looks like that's going to be out of bounds going over to Fournette.

And I think that some of seniors are starting to realize, just take it slow, take it easy, no turnovers, and we've got ourselves a silver trophy here down to 20 or so seconds left in the game.

Bryce Croxton is going to get it across the timeline.

He's going to just put it up looking for a teammate.

Nice dish.

Back to Martinez, maybe going for the cherry on top.

Two points up and good.

That could be it.

Martinez Johnson, he's got 14, 5 seconds, four, three, two, one.

West Georgia, 18.

But the Gwinnett Heat seven.

No, they are 2012 adaptive sports champions in overtime.

Way to go, Gwinnett.

The defense of Gwinnett held West Georgia while they ran off 12 straight points.

Good enough for a victory.

Congratulations to coach Ice Stone, Hope and all the trophy presentation coming up in just a few minutes.

Leslie, I've got one question for you right now.

You mentioned this senior effort out here by this trio of seniors.

What will they go and leave this court with today in terms of of a championship?

I'll tell you what, there's there's nothing there's nothing quite that compares to that feeling, that accomplishment.

You know, they're coming to the end of their high school career.

They're looking forward to their college careers and what lies beyond.

And to know that the leadership and the hard work and the dedication it took to get here and win a state championship is a lot to carry with you as you move beyond your high school career.

All right.

We've got the trophy presentation coming up next.

Congratulations to the Gwinnett Heat, 7.0 undefeated.

And they are 2012 came out on me.

And it's hard to say to just want to celebrate.

Yeah, yeah.

Another day living.