Tuscarawas County’s Special Olympics Teams Begin Playoffs March 1

  • By Teri Stein
  • February 24, 2014
  • 389
                        
Summary: Don’t miss the fun when two Tuscarawas County teams participate at the Area 9 and East Section Special Olympics Basketball Tournament; action gets underway on March 1 at Dover Middle School. After a season of spotty play thanks to a harsh winter, Tuscarawas County’s two Special Olympics basketball teams, The Tuscarawas County Rockets and the Stepping Stone Knights, are ready or not, going to the playoffs. “We had a lot of games cancelled due to the weather and one game had to be rescheduled three times,” said Kim Meek-Obed, an assistant coach for the Tuscarawas County Rockets, who said many times the opposing team did not want to make up a game. “Without playing games, it leaves us with less experience with other teams that we may play in the playoffs and less practice time.” It was another building year for the Rockets. “We have a lot of athletes who have a lot of talent but need to learn to play as a team. We don’t want them to rely on one person to handle the ball or shoot the ball,” said Meek-Obed. The Rockets showed improvement each week. “We are learning to play defense,” said Meek-Obed who offered an example. “We played Guernsey County twice. The first time they beat us. The second time we beat them.” The difference was the improvement in the Rockets’ defensive skills. Meek-Obed is confident the Rockets can put it all together and do well in the play-offs. “If we can get past Jefferson County in our first game, I think we will have a good run at it.” The members of the Tuscarawas County Rockets are: Deric Johnson, Cliff Jackson, Shane Johnson, Travis Glasgow, Kershel Zehnder, Rachel Russell, Logan Wise, Jenny Hostetler, Conner DiGenova, Shane York, John Carlson, Adam Wayt, Craig Gordon, Robert Easlick and Erickson Farnsworth. Bob Glasgow serves as the Rockets’ head coach. Another Rockets team, The Basketball Individual Skills team, recently returned from the competing in a competition in Cambridge. “We had a total of eight athletes that have been practicing the individual skills of passing, dribbling and shooting for the past three months,” said Meek-Obed. “I am proud to say that of the seven that went to the competition we came home with seven medals!” The members of the Skills team are: Kaylee Arthurs, William Chambers, Lon DiGenova, Elizabeth Lippencott, Larry Schweitzer, Steve Simpson and Michael Teague. Another team member, Gerry Jasper, was unable to attend the competition this year. The members of the Stepping Stone Knights, another Tuscarawas County based Special Olympics basketball team that plays their home games at Dennison, also showed improvement this year with third year Head Coach Nathan Davis and Assistant Coach Mic Maple. The Knights have fallen to the Rockets in two games this season but will be looking for a win in the playoffs. “If both the Rockets and the Knights win their first playoff game, they will play each other in the second game,” said Coach Davis who has been impressed with the increased turnout in athletes who want to play for the Knights. “We have two times as many guys as last year.” “We work hard but we try to have fun too,” said Davis. “Our focus is on good sportsmanship whether we win or lose.” The members of the Stepping Stone Knights are: Richard Anderson, Todd Phillips, Bryan Parker, John Peloubet, Andy Parcell, Joseph Barkett, Zachary Kurtz, J.R. Norris, Alonzo Hardy, Steve Hazelip, Josh Tharp, Chris Bayne, Chris Kempf, and Frank Cassels. The Area 9 and East Section Special Olympics Basketball Tournament will be held at Dover Middle School starting on March 1. The Rockets first game will be at 10 a.m. on Sat. March 1 against Jefferson County. The Knights first game will be March 1 at 11:30 a.m. against Guernsey County. If both teams win their first game, we could see an all Tuscarawas County playoff game on March 8 at 11:30 a.m. Admission to the playoff games is free and the public is welcome to attend. Come support your local Special Olympics teams and see what playing from the heart really means!


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