This past week, there was lots of excitement in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA). The NWBA celebrated the United States Armed Forces on Veterans Day, November 11, and held several events across the nation. NWBA sanctioned events were held in Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Connecticut, California, and Indiana. Read the article below for more information.

 

Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

The National Wheelchair Basketball Association celebrated the the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard with their families for their support, courage, and service to the United States of America.

The NWBA Board of Directors, staff, national teams and all other members thanked all military personal for their service to this country. The NWBA celebrated “Veteran’s Week” from November 6th to 11th. Veteran’s Week highlighted the United States Armed Forces personnel within the NWBA.

 

NWBA’s Women’s Development Camp (Nov.9-13)

The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) hosted the 2017 NWBA Women’s Development Camp this past weekend, November 9-13, at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The NWBA hosts annual development camps for both men and women.

The NWBA Women’s Development Camp was an opportunity for athletes to gain exposure to the U.S. National Team’s coaching team. The camp was led by U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Trooper Johnson of San Lorenso, California and assisted Amy Spangler of Madison, Wisconsin. Athletes experienced similar training and instruction similar to that of the U.S. National Team’s athletes.

Instruction and training from Coach Johnson included: over 20 hours of on-court instruction, individual video analysis of pushing mechanics and shooting form, advanced individual skills drills, strength and conditioning techniques, detailed player evaluation, benchmarks for individual player development and personalized take-home drills.

 

2nd Annual Tucson Veterans Weekend Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and Adaptive Sports Expo (Nov. 10-12)

The Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (SAAS) of Tucson, Arizona hosted a variety of events throughout the weekend in celebration of Veterans Day. This past weekend, SAAS hosted their 2nd Annual Tucson Veterans Weekend Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and Adaptive Sports Expo in Tucson, AZ.

Participating teams played in two pools, Adult Division I verses Adult Division II and Adult Division III verses the Women’s Division.

 

Adult Division I & Adult Division II

          · University of Arizona DII of Tucson, Arizona

          · Las Vegas Yuccas DII of Las Vegas, Nevada

          · NMCSD Wolfpack DII of San Diego, California

          · University of Arizona DI (only played two games) of Tucson, Arizona

 

Adult Division III & Women’s Division

          · Tucson Lobos DIII of Tucson, Arizona

          · El Paso TX Air Wheelers DIII of Sunland Park, New Mexico

          · Ability360 Phoenix Wheelchair Suns DIII of Phoenix, Arizona

          · Arizona Storm Women of Tucson, Arizona

 

The SAAS’s 2nd Annual Tucson Veterans Weekend Wheelchair Basketball Tournament was filled with lots anxious fans with close games throughout the weekend. One in particular was a game between the University of Arizona DII and the Las Vegas Yuccas. The University of Arizona fought hard to secure a close victory, 46-40.   

The Arizona Storm Women’s team played some nail biters this weekend defeating the Ability360 Phoenix Wheelchair Suns DIII by only two points, 56-54 and the Tucson Lobos by only one point, 41-40.

 

9th Annual Second City Showdown (Nov. 11-12)

The Chicago Parks District hosted the 9th Annual Second City Showdown in Chicago, Illinois. Twelve teams from the Intercollegiate Men, Intercollegiate Women, Adult Division I, Adult Division II and Adult Division III will compete in this tournament.

Competing teams included: Mary Free Bed Pacers of Grand Rapids, Michigan; MedStar NRH Punishers of Washington, D.C.; RIC Hornets of Chicago, Illinois; University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men’s and Women’s Team of Champaign, Illinois; Los Angeles Hotwheels of Cudahy, California; LWSRA Hawks of New Lenox, Illinois; Rockford Chariots of Roscoe, Illinois; Wisconsin Thunder of Whitewater, Wisconsin; Chicago Skyhawks of Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks DIII of Brookfield, Wisconsin; and University of Wisconsin or (UW) Whitewater Women of Whitewater, Wisconsin.

There were three different championships: the Showdown Division, the Midway Division, and the Da’ Blues Division.

The MedStar NRH Punishers were the Showdown Champions followed by the RIC Hornets as runner-up. The Mary Free Bed Pacers placed third followed by the Los Angeles Hotwheels in fourth place.

The Showdown Most Valuable Player was Bryce Doody of the MedStar NRH Punishers. The Showdown Sportsmanship Award went to Lee Montgomery of the Mary Free Bed Pacers.

 

Showdown All-Tournament Team

Gary Maldonado, RIC Hornets

Trey Jenifer, MedStar NRH Punishers

Jimmy Moceri, MFB Pacers

Marcelo Gomez, LA Hotwheels

Tom Smurr, RIC Hornets

Charles McDonald, MFB Pacers

 

The Midway Champions were the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men followed by the Wisconsin Thunder. The Rockford Chariots placed third in the Midway Division.

Damien Buchman of the Wisconsin Thunder was the Midway Division’s Most Valuable Player. The Midway Sportsmanship Award went to Seth Goldberg of the Chicago Skyhawks.

 

Midway All-Tournament Team

Justin South, Rockford Chariots

Thomas Duffy, Illini Men

Kyle Jankowski, Illini Men

Eric Shinkus, WI Thunder

 

Da' Blues Champions were the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Women followed by the Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks DIII. The University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Warhawk Women placed third.

Da' Blues Most Valuable Player was Emily Oberst of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Women’s team. Da' Blues Sportsmanship Award went to Ricky Chones of the Milwaukee Bucks DIII team.

 

Da' Blues All-Tournament Team

Art Johnson, LWSRA Hawks

Curran Brown, Illini Women

Marissa Bartels, UWW - Warhawk Women

Kevin Bassette, Bucks DIII

Laura Vacek, UWW - Warhawk Women

 

Earl Jordan won the 2017 Larry Labiak Award for Leadership.

 

UTA Jim Hayes Invitational (Nov. 10-12)

In honor of the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Homecoming Weekend, the Movin' Mavs Adapted Sports hosted the UTA Jim Hayes Invitational at the Maverick Activities Center and Physical Education Building in Arlington, Texas.

The Lady Movin’ Mavs of Arlington, Texas were 3-0 Saturday in the Jim Hayes Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

Top scorers were graduate student and 2017 U.S. Women’s National Team member Morgan Wood with 24 points, Paralympic gold medalist Rose Hollermann (senior) with 21 points, and Paralympic gold medalist Abby Dunkin (junior) with 20 points for the win.

UTA’s Movin’ Mavs Men Team of Arlington, Texas defeated the University of Alabama Men’s team of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 61-41 and a lost against the Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks Division I team of Arlington, Texas, 81-62. Bonnie Nickleberry led the Dallas Mavs with 31 points, followed by Andreas Kraft with 19 points.

For more information on the UTA Jim Hayes Invitational, read the article below.

http://www.theshorthorn.com/sports/lady-movin-mavs-on-roll-movin-mavs-fall-in-memorial/article_cfc911b6-c74d-11e7-a487-5ba2c9c5c8ad.html

 

CT Day Tournament (Nov. 12)

The Connecticut Spokebenders of Meriden, Connecticut hosted their first official tournament of the season this past weekend in Bristol, Connecticut.

The Connecticut Spokebenders of Meriden, Connecticut; the Axis Knights of New York, New York; the Brooklyn Nets of Brooklyn, New York; and the New England Blazers of Saugus, Massachusetts competed in the CT Day Tournament this past weekend.

The Connecticut Spokesmen came out on top, 3-0, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 48-31, New England Blazers 48-33, and the Axis Knights 48-17. The New England Blazers followed closely behind with a win against the Axis Knights, 60-14, and the Brooklyn Nets, 49-46.

 

Boro Shootout (Nov. 11-12)

Edinboro University hosted the Boro Shootout this past weekend on campus in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.

Will Waller of the Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers of Brunswick, Ohio lead his team to victory with a solid 3-0 win over Toronto 1 of Nepean, Ontario (51-37), Edinboro University Wheelchair Basketball Men’s Team (53-41), and the Division II London Forest City Flyers of Denfield, Ontario (59-32).

Top scorers of the Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers were Will Waller and Mike Adams. Adams is in his first season with the Cavs.

The Edinboro University’s Fighting Scots avenged a loss to the Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers defeating them by one point, 49-39, to claim the 2017 Boro Shootout Tournament. This is the first time the Fighting Scots claimed the Boro Shootout Title in six years.

 

Kings Tournament (Nov. 11-12)

The Nassau Kings Inc. hosted the Kings Tournament at the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury, New York.

This Division II tournament consisted of the Nassau Kings of Elmont, New York; the Delaware Destroyers of Wilmington, Delaware; the Bulova Nets of Tinton Falls, New

Jersey; the Magee Spokesmen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Brockton Celtics of Raynham, Massachusetts, and the Sportable Rim Riders of Richmond, Virginia.

 

San Diego Silverbacks Tournament (Nov. 11)

The San Diego Silverbacks hosted the Silverbacks DII Invitational in San Diego, California.

The Boyle Heights Kodiaks of Huntington Park, California; the Los Angeles Clippers Chairmen of Los Angeles, California; the PossAbilities Rolling Bears Lake Elsinore, CA;; the Rancho Renegades of Downey, California; the Sacramento Royals of Sacramento, California; and San Diego Silverbacks of San Diego, California played in the tournament.

 

Bill and Julie Duncan Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (Nov, 11-12)

The San Jose State School of Kinesiology of the San Jose State University of San Jose, California is hosted the Bill and Julie Duncan Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament this past weekend at the Spartan Complex Gym in San Jose, California.

This Adult Division I tournament included the Utah Wheelin’ Jazz of Lehi, Utah; the Sacramento Rollin’ Kings of Davis, California; the Settle Sonics of Seattle, Washington; and the Golden State Road Warriors of Milpitas, California.

 

RHI Sports Naptown Classic (Nov. 11)

The RHI Jr. Racers of Indianapolis, Indiana hosted the RHI Sports Naptwon Classic November 11 at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana. Seven teams competed this weekend in the Prep and Varsity Divisions.