Men and women from the Clark County Sheriff’s Department faced off against the young men and women of Miami Valley Adapted Sports’ Junior Minutemen in a game of wheelchair basketball Friday night at Indian Valley.
The Junior Minutemen beat the Sheriff’s Department 26-12, effortlessly gliding across the court in specially-designed basketball wheelchairs, making the art of dribbling while controlling the wheelchair seem quite easy. The deputies, who were not as practiced in the skill, struggled a bit getting the ball up and down the court, often relying upon passes to one another to make it in the hoop.
Proceeds from the game went to the MVAS Junior Minutemen for operations, wheelchairs, and travel costs, as the team travels all around the state playing other adapted sports teams.
Several vendors set up booths on the stage, offering visitors an early jump on Christmas shopping, and several lucky bidders walked away with prize-packed gift baskets during the auction at halftime.
Kristy Tome of the Village of Enon helped organize the event, as her son Sebastian plays for the Junior Minutemen. Tome said proceeds from the night totaled $2,805 for the Junior Minutemen thanks to donations at the door, as well as generous donors from the community who provided numerous gift cards for two “Taste of Enon” gift baskets, which went for over $100 apiece. A new juicing system donated from resident Loretta Lawrence fetched $180 at auction, making it one of the highest ticket items of the evening. Lawrence initially attempted to give the system to Mad River Township Deputy Jeff Wise as a token of her gratitude to his dedication to breast cancer awareness, but Wise declined due to company policy and instead donated the juicer to the auction.
The Junior Minutemen play several games per month, traveling around the state and into Indiana to compete against other wheelchair basketball teams. The team consists of young men and women ages nine through twelve who rely upon the use of a wheelchair either partially or constantly.
For more information on the league, or to view a schedule of upcoming games, visit www.miamivalleyadaptedsports.org.
