2021 NWBA Toyota Adult Division I Wheelchair Basketball National Championships 

June 24-26

Wichita, Kansas

#1 seed Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks defeat #2 seed WASA Bucks; 76-67  

The Dallas Mavericks came into the Championship game with something to prove - that despite the pandemic, they were still talented enough to defend their National title from last year. They did just that.

However, at the beginning of the game it was WASA's game to lose. The Bucks were up 22-12 at the end of the first half with almost half of those points coming from Ryan Glatchak. Dallas's team chemistry and talent over the years lead to seamless passes and a great contribution to closing the gap. With six minutes in the first half, Dallas came within two points of WASA. Then, Bobbie Nickleberry sought out the miss matches on the field and hit buckets for Dallas to take the lead 28-26 with a minute to go before halftime. That was an action packed minute with a three-pointer from Dylan Fischbach for WASA and Nickleberry matching his three-pointer with less than a second left to put Dallas up at half 33-29. However, Nickleberry's three was taken away when the refs declared that the ball was not released from his hands before the clock ran out.

Both teams stayed within two to four points of each other the majority of the second half and with seven minutes left, it was tied 54-54. Glatchak forced a turnover and stole the ball for Gribble to shoot for two to switch the momentum, but Dallas only uped the ante. They forced turnovers, converted on their free throws, and Jay Nelms supported Nickleberry for an unstoppable dou. Overall, WASA Bucks lead a more balanced attack with Glatchak, Fischback, and Jeremy Lade being the top scorers for the team with 18, 14, and 16 points respectively. Dallas relied heavily on Nickleberry who scored 34 of the 76 points followed by his teammates Jason Nelms with 12 and Aaron Gouge with ten.  

FINAL RANKINGS

1. Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks

2. WASA Bucks

3. NMCSD Wolf Pack

4. Tampa Bay Strong Dogs

5. Kansas City Kings

6. Austin Rec'ers 

Click here to view the final bracket.

ALL TOURNAMENT AWARDS

First Team

Jay Nelms, Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks

Dylan Fischbach, WASA Bucks

James Ross, Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks

Jorge Salazar, NMCSD Wolf Pack

Second Team

Aaron Patterson, NMCSD Wolf Pack

Eric Rodriguez, KC Kings

Robbie Gordon, Tampa Bay Strong Dogs

John Gilbert, KC Kings

Ryan Hundemer, Austin Rec'ers

Sportsmanship Award

Matt Bollig, KC Kings

MVP

Bobbie Nickleberry, Dallas Wheelchair Maverick 

2021 NWBA Toyota Adult Division II Wheelchair Basketball National Championships 

June 24-26

Wichita, Kansas

#1 seed Ft. Lauderdale Sharks defeat #2 seed ABC Medical Legends; 73-45

Both teams came into the game with a record of 3-1. In the beginning of the game, it was a close match up between the Ft. Lauderdale Sharks and ABC Medical Legends. The first quarter ended with the Legends only up one point (18-17), which was not surprising considering they had gone head to head the day before that resulted in the Sharks winning 60-58. However, it was clear the Sharks larger roster was advantageous when it came to the final game of the tournament. After four games in two days, the six ABC Medical athletes weren't able to keep the Sharks within reach. The shark athletes all seemed to start clicking at the same time, and once that rhythm was established they were unstoppable. At half, the sharks already gained an 18 point lead and eventually took the DII Championship game with a score of 73-45. 

FINAL RANKINGS

1. Ft. Lauderdale Sharks

2. ABC Medical Legends 

3. Detroit Wheelchair Pistons

4. OKC Wheels of Thunder

Click here to view the final bracket.

ALL TOURNAMENT AWARDS 

First Team

Carlos Ocasio, Ft. Lauderdale Sharks 

Karolina Lingyte, ABC Medical Legends

Ryan Hynes, ABC Medical Legends

Brian Wofford, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Jesus Villa, Detroit Wheelchair Pistons

Second Team 

Arnold Barnes, Ft. Lauderdale Sharks

Michael Thompkins, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Chris Ridenour, Ft. Lauderdale Sharks

Anthony Meadows, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Andre Edwards, Detroit Wheelchair Pistons

Sportsmanship Award

Brittany Gufaston, ABC Medical Legends

MVP 

Dirrik Hughes, Ft. Lauderdale Sharks

2021 NWBA Toyota Adult Division III Wheelchair Basketball National Championships 

June 24-26

Wichita, Kansas

#2 seed Lakeshore Storm upset #1 seed Charlotte Rollin' Hornets;  62-57 

Lakeshore Storm came into the game as the second seed, but they weren't going to settle for second overall. Both teams fought tooth and nail and stayed within two to four points of each other for the majority of the game. A fan on Facebook commented, "With only three minutes, I still wouldn't want to bet on an outcome." The Storm was down a point with a second left in the half, and number 23 hit a buzzer beater three pointer to take the lead. With the electric crowd and energy on the court, there was never a dull moment. A minute into the last quarter, Charlotte started to pull ahead and Candice Law added to the five point margin with a shot for two. However, that only encouraged Lakeshore to respond with the same action, tied it up, and then went up 59-53 with less than two minutes left in the last quarter. With 38 seconds left, Lakeshore made it a three possession game. Charlotte tried to close the gap, but committed a turnover and it was over from there with a final score of 62-57. This was a tough loss for the junior varsity athletes participating on the Charlotte adult team as they had just lost their varsity semi-final game only a couple hours earlier in the day. 

FINAL RANKINGS

1. Lakeshore Storm

2. Charlotte Rollin' Hornets

3. Houston Rollin' Rockets

4. Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers

Click here to view the final bracket.

ALL TOURNAMENT AWARDS

First Team

Candice Law, Charlotte Rollin' Hornets

Donnie Langford, Charlotte Rollin' Hornets

Preston Howell, Charlotte Rollin' Hornets

Rashad Bennett, Lakeshore Storm

Richard Travis , Charlotte Rollin' Hornets

Second Team

Joon Reid, Lakeshore Storm

Anthony Robinson, Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers 

Corey Pewitt, Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers

Kenn Peters, Houston Rollin' Rockets

Mike Williams, Houston Rollin' Rockets

Tim Stout Sportsmanship Award 

Rachel Doud, Lakeshore Storm

MVP & Player of the Game

Jonah Daniels, Lakeshore Storm

2021 NWBA Toyota Junior Division Varsity Wheelchair Basketball National Championships 

June 25-27

Wichita, Kansas

#1 seed Cincinnati Dragons defeat #2 seed BlazeSports Jr Hawks - Red; 55-50  

The Cincinnati Dragons and Atlanta BlazeSports Hawks game was everything you expect a Championship game to be - an evenly matched game that has you on the edge of your seat until the last second. The entire game was point for point with the teams tied 46-46 at the end of regulation to send it into overtime. It came down to the wire as both teams made a valiant effort to win. With less than two minutes in overtime, Cincinnati committed a foul and Atlanta scored on the possession for their 50th point, still three behind Cincinnati. It was only in the last minute that Cincinnati pulled ahead with two baskets in a row followed by a couple airballs from Atlanta. With 15 seconds left, Cincinnati took possession after a missed Atlanta shot and claimed the Varsity Championship with a final score of 55-50. 

Click here to view the final bracket.

ALL TOURNAMENT AWARD

First Team

Morgan McCammon, ATX 

Gabriel Taylor, Cincinnati Dragons

Matthew Summons, St. Louis DASA Rolling Rams

Hannah Exline, RHI Racers

Cameron Poole, WASA Jr Bucks 

Second Team

James Pollard, Bennett Blazers

Samantha Fraiser, Atlanta BlazeSports Hawks

Kerwin Haake, Cincinnati Dragons

Preson Howell IV, Charlotte Rollin' Hornets

Quinn Meyer, ATX

Female Team

Morgan McCammon, ATX

Samantha Fraiser, ATX

Hannah Exline, RHI Racers

Lilly Lautenschlager, Nebraska Red Dawgs

Quinn Meyer, ATX

Sportsmanship Award

Alexander Hooper, Houston Rollin Rockets

MVP

Alex Hilgeford, Cincinnati Dragons

Female MVP

Samantha Fraiser, Atlanta BlazeSports Hawks

Championship Game MVP

Gabriel Taylor, Cincinnati Dragons

2021 NWBA Toyota Junior Division - Varsity Invitational Wheelchair Basketball National Championships 

June 25-27

Wichita, Kansas

#1 seed Mississippi Wheelcats 30 vs #2 seed Music City Thunder 20 

Click here to view the final bracket.

ALL TOURNAMENT AWARDS

First Team 

Joel Burns, Mississippi Wheelcats

Jay Denning, Music City Thunder

Brenden Fry, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Nash Bennett, Mississippi Wheelcats

Zion Redington, Music City Thunder 

Second Team

Russell Quals, Music City Thunder

Isabelle Lawson, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Phillip Lindsey, Mississippi Wheelcats

Talbey Ahlum, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Corbin Cross, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Female Team

Jordyn Nichols, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Carline Puckett, Mississippi Wheelchats 

Madeline Edwards, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Female MVP

Madelyn Edwards, OKC Wheels of Thunder

Male MVP

John Matthew Davis, Mississippi Wheelcats 

2021 NWBA Toyota Junior Division Prep Wheelchair Basketball National Championships 

June 25-27

Wichita, Kansas

#1 seed Lakeshore Sharks defeat #2 seed WASA Jr Bucks; 38-28

Click here to view the final bracket. 

ALL TOURNAMENT AWARDS

First Team

Cameron Gunter, Atlanta BlazeSports Hawks

Adan Persad, NY Rollin Fury

Najee Smothers, Atlanta BlazeSports Hawks

Andrew Beutel, WASA Jr Bucks

Zane Goodwin, Lakeshore Sharks

Second Team

Abdus Salaam, NY Rollin Fury

Catherine Reddin, WASA Jr Bucks

Noah Lewis, Charlotte Rollin Hornets

Yandel Pina, Kansas City Kings

Madison Etheridge, Lakeshore Sharks

All Female Team

Caroline Fitzpatrick, NY Rollin Fury

Catherine Reddin, WASA Jr Bucks

Chloe Salisbury, RHI Jr Racers

Ruthie McKnight, Cincinnati Dragons

Madison Etheridge, Lakeshore Sharks

Sportsmanship Award

Tolsen Crandel, RHI Jr Racers

MVP Male

Jakarious Kemp, Lakeshore Sharks

MVP Female

Caroline Fitzpatrick, NY Rollin Fury

MVP of Championship Game

Jackson Horne

The 2021 NWBA Toyota National Championship Series was graciously supported by title sponsor, Toyota Motor North American. Thank you Toyota for all your support in making these championships a reality..."Let's Go Places."

Thank you to the local organizing committee (LOC), Visit Wichita, for hosting the 2021 NWBA Toyota Adult and Junior Wheelchair Basketball National Championships. 

Special thanks to all the NWBA partners that made the series possible including ABC Medical, Nike, Molten USA, RGK Wheelchairs, Spinergy Wheels, and Eagle Sports Chairs.  

Thank you to all the host cities and communities for their hospitality to NWBA members and fans throughout the series. Thanks to the local sponsors and supporters of each event, your contributions did not go unnoticed!

Thank you to all NWBA Board of Directors and divisional leadership for their efforts from start to finish on these events. We greatly appreciate your selfless assistance throughout the preparation and implementation of the series.

Thank you to all the tournament personnel for their work, including classifiers, floor officials, facility/venue staff and EMT/medical staff.

Thank you event volunteers for your time assisting the NWBA during these events. The countless hours served by volunteers throughout this series were truly the lifeline for the success of these events. Thank you, volunteers!

Lastly, thank you to all NWBA members! We hope your season was fruitful with success/wins, and not just on the scoreboard. We look forward to hosting you all next year for the 74th season of the NWBA and the 2022 Toyota National Championship Series!