B次元官网网址撯赌�
Troy Schattenkirk lined up for a free throw, a shot he has practised again and again. He focused on the hoop, bounced the ball B次元官网网址� and missed, with the ball ending up in an opponentB次元官网网址檚 hands.
It wasnB次元官网网址檛 over for Schattenkirk, however, who quickly turned the play back in his favour, stealing the ball and sinking a layup that sent fans into a frenzy at Pacific Way elementary.
B次元官网网址淥ur coach (Jordynn Denness) called a timeout and she said, B次元官网网址楾he next time you come out, get into your positions and go hard.B次元官网网址� Schattenkirk said. B次元官网网址淪he said, B次元官网网址楧onB次元官网网址檛 be scared to get on your checks and steal the ball.B次元官网网址� So thatB次元官网网址檚 what I did. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what happened.B次元官网网址�
The 28-year-old Penticton winger with autism scored 20 points to secure a 43-19 win for the Thompson-Okanagan Special Olympics basketball team during a quarter-final game against Fraser Valley on Saturday morning.
B次元官网网址淭his is my first time watching a basketball game and I was like, B次元官网网址極h, I might have to come more often,B次元官网网址� said Heather Semchuk, who was cheering on son Kent Plettl from Kamloops.
Assistant coach Patrick Wilson attributed the teamB次元官网网址檚 win to a full-court press.
B次元官网网址淲e feel good about our performance in this game,B次元官网网址� he said.
While some players could give the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack a run for their money, others, like 18-year-old Ethan Sun, arenB次元官网网址檛 in it to win.
B次元官网网址淲e want to form as a group and work together,B次元官网网址� Sun told KTW.
Wilson coaches in Kelowna and only just met half of his newly formed team. Thompson-Okanagan athletes were brought together from Penticton, Kelowna and Kamloops for the BC Winter Games, selected by their respective Special Olympics coaches to represent the region. Six regional teams are competing.
B次元官网网址淪pecial Olympics basketball is really just starting to get going in the Okanagan region over the last three to five years,B次元官网网址� Wilson said.
One of two Special Olympics events at the BC Winter Games, basketball rules have been altered to suit the needs of those with diverse abilities. The game has been shortened and you wonB次元官网网址檛 find a 30-second shot clock counting down above the court. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no rule on subbing and referees consider the player when making a call for minor infractions like double-dribbling or travelling.
Give athletes with diverse abilities the opportunity to prosper and they do, Wilson said.
Player Quote from Special Olympics Basketball:
B次元官网网址� BC Games (@BCGames1)
"Everyone is supportive. Always encouraging each other with high fives & pats on the back."
B次元官网网址淲e work to play with their strengths and we work around their disabilities, but at the same time we give them the opportunity to shine,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat enables and empowers them.B次元官网网址�
But it doesnB次元官网网址檛 always run 100 per cent smoothly.
During the game between Thompson-Okanagan and Fraser Valley, a call was made by a volunteer Kamloops referee against a Fraser Valley player who took too long to toss the ball into play. She was visibly shaken from the call after the offiicial cited the five-second rule.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no five-second rule,B次元官网网址� came shouts from the sidelines.
The referee reversed his call, but it was too late for the player, who made her way off the court and would not return to the game for a full quarter. When she did return to the sidelines, she sat on the bench and got her shoulders rubbed before returning to the hardcourt.
B次元官网网址淎ny time you have Special Olympics, you have to be flexible in regards to understanding if they [athletes with diverse abilities] can get on the court,B次元官网网址� said Leah Briault, Special Olympic basketball chair for the BC Winter Games.
Supports are in place at Pacific Way. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a designated quiet room for athletes and therapy dogs are on hand B次元官网网址� fluffballs that could be seen roaming the school hallways when not needed by athletes. Specialty personnel include B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital nurses and physiotherapists. Paramedics have also been on site.
The supports are enough to ease the minds of parents Laura and Dave Hender from Quesnel, whose 14-year-old son Matthew, who has autism, joined his first sports team in October. He is in Kamloops as part of the Caribou-North East team.
Communication with the coach has brought additional piece of mind for the parents as they manage the separation.
B次元官网网址淭he whole thing. Having to come on the bus, stay at a school, eat meals with other people. We were freaking out,B次元官网网址� Laura told KTW. B次元官网网址淏ut heB次元官网网址檚 doing great. HeB次元官网网址檚 wearing a uniform, which bothers him B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檝e just noticed his confidence. WeB次元官网网址檙e blown away by how independent he is this weekend. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool.B次元官网网址�
Briault coaches the Kamloops Special Olympics basketball team and cancelled SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 practice due to the Games, telling her players to instead come and watch their three teammates who made the Thompson-Okanagan squad. Most of the team was in the stands cheering on the three players from Kamloops B次元官网网址� Plettl, Josh Trudell and Aaron Lansdowne.
B次元官网网址淚t was awesome,B次元官网网址� Lansdowne said. B次元官网网址淲e are family.B次元官网网址�
Many of the athletes have been playing multiple sports together for years, either on a team or competing against one another. It has built an inclusive community among athletes with diverse abilities in Kamloops, the Thompson-Okanagan and British Columbia, which was evident when a Fraser Valley player was bumped and fell during the game.
KamloopsB次元官网网址� Plettl reached down to his opponent, calling the player by name, and offered a hand.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 team sportsmanship,B次元官网网址� Plettl said.
The Thompson-Okanagan squad would not go on to win its afternoon contest against Vancouver Coastal.
B次元官网网址淰aliant effort from our team against a very strongly build team,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淲e were proud of them.B次元官网网址�
The Special Olympics basketball final will be played on Sunday at 10 a.m. Pacific Way elementary. The Thompson-Okanagan squad will play in the bronze-medal game at 8:30 a.m. Medal presentations will take place at 11:30 a.m.
Did you know?
Female and male athletes ages 14 to 35 with diverse abilities share the court for Special Olympics basketball during the BC Winter Games.
The Games also feature Special Olympics figure skating.
Paralympic sports differ from Special Olympics in that Paralympic athletes have only physical disabilities, not intellectual ones.
Across the province, 4,600 athletes are registered with Special Olympics B.C., 72 per cent of whom are ages 19 to 59. Youth programs can take in kid as young as two years of age.
