More than 550 Special Olympics athletes hit the court in Louisville March 13-15 in what is annually one of the most exciting weekends of the year for Special Olympics Kentucky Sports -- the State Basketball Tournament and Team Skills Competition. And once again in 2010 the event didn't disappoint.
Two of the 10 State Tournament Championship Games were decided by just two points. The 1A Red Division Championship Game was a battle of Northern Kentucky teams with the Kenton County Wildcats taking on the Area 7 Crusaders. Kenton County mounted a furious second half comeback, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter --including four out of five free throws to close out the game -- to overcome a five point halftime deficit. Ryan Meyer came off the bench to score all seven of his points in the final quarter for the Wildcats and lead them to a 21-19 victory and the gold medal. Kenton County's Brandon Orcena led all scorers with nine points. Chuck Thompson led the Crusaders with six.
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| The Pitt Academy Kodiaks pulled off a stunning comeback to win the 2A State Championship. |
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In the 2A Championship Game, Roy Hardy of Pitt Academy scored his only basket of the game with just over 8 seconds remaining to give the Pitt Academy (Louisville) Kodiaks a one-point lead over the Muhlenberg Mustangs. Hardy added a free throw after a final Mustangs shot missed and Hardy was fouled. Evan Reed led the Kodiaks, who trailed for all but the final 8 seconds, with 10 points. James Dudash led Muhlenberg County -- a team playing in its first ever Special Olympics basketball season -- with 13 points.
The best game of the tournament however may have come in the 3A semifinals on Saturday. Up by four points after three quarters, the Bowling Green Sheriffs needed a late three-pointer by Billy Joe Anderson to pull out a one-point victory over the Lexington Wildcats. The Wildcats had a couple of chances in the closing seconds to tie or win the game -- their first as a 3A team, but a lane violation and a near miss pushed Bowling Green to the Championship game with a 40-39 win. The Sheriff's later fell to the Western Kentucky (Paducah) Eagles in the Gold Medal Game.
Two Western Kentucky teams claimed Gold Medals at the State Tournament. In addition to the Eagles, the Western Kentucky Stars won the B Blue Division. Owensboro teams also won a pair of Championships, with the Owensboro Giants taking the B Purple Division and the Owensboro Lady Lasers claiming the B Female Division.The Ohio County Orange Crush claimed the B Red Division and the Lexington Torpedos claimed that city's only State Championship in the B Yellow Division. The other three titles all went to Northern Kentucky teams. In addition to the Kenton County Wildcats, the Boone County Rebels won the 1A Blue Division and the Northern Kentucky Rimrockers took the title in the 4A Division. The Lady Lasers and the Rimrockers were the only 2009 champions to repeat this year.
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| The Bowling Green Express Celebrate their Gold Medal at the 2010 Team Skills Competition. |
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In all 40 of the state's nearly 100 basketball teams competed in the bracketed State Tournament. Teams that didn't qualify for the State Tournament were eligible to compete in the Team Skills Competition, held on March 13 at Bellarmine University. This year 17 teams took part, competing in five divisions.
The closest competition came in the B Yellow Division, where the Oldham County Jaguars barely edged the Bowling Green Deputies by 0.54 points for the Gold Medal. Other Skills Competition champions were the
Bowling Green Express in the B Red Division, the Barren County Flames in the B Blue Division, the Western Kentucky Lady Falcons in the Women's
Division, the Stewart Home School Panthers in the 1A Division and the Louisville Flyers in 2A.
See more photos of the 2010 State Basketball Tournament
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2010 State Basketball Tournament, whether as an athlete or as a volunteer. We especially want to thank the referees of the
Kentuckiana Basketball Officials Association who were celebrating their 20th year as volunteers at the Special Olympics Kentucky State Basketball Tournament. The games would not be possible without their support.
For more information about the Special olympics Kentucky State Basketball Tournament or to find out how you can be involved next year, contact Erin Young at 502-695-8222 or eyoung@soky.org.
B Blue Division —Western Kentucky Stars
B Yellow Division — Lexington Torpedos
B Purple Division — Owensboro Giants
B Red Division — Ohio County Orange Crush
B Female Division — Owensboro Lady Lasers
1A Blue Division — Boone County Rebels
1A Red Division — Kenton County Wildcats
2A Division — Pitt Academy Kodiaks
3A Division — Western Kentucky Eagles
4A DIvision — Northern Kentucky Rimrockers
