Hoops!

The gymnasium bleachers were packed with adoring fans shaking pompoms and yelling words of encouragement at their favorite team. Tennis shoes squeaked as the players shuffled and took their positions on the floor.

A tip-off started the game. Blue was in possession.

*bounce* *bounce* *bounce*

The ball handler beat the defender, quickly glanced around, and weighed his options to advance the ball. In an assist attempt, he lob-passed it downcourt. The shooter in the short corner leapt under the basket with a layup, but the bank shot deflected from the rim. The field goal effort failed.

White snatched the defensive rebound and ran a fast break. An outlet pass toward midcourt was seized by his waiting teammate. He drove to the basket and took a shot from the paint.

*swoosh*

Nothing but net!

High-fives all around!

The fancy footwork and ball-handling weren’t showcased by high-profile NBA players nor were they exhibited by those marching to NCAA madness. It wasn’t even that local Grandville Bulldogs were enjoying a home court advantage. The exemplary dribbling, passing, shooting and rebounding skills were executed by teams comprised of athletes with and without cognitive disabilities who took part in a Special Olympics basketball tournament.

For anyone who competitively shoots hoops, there are rules which must be followed. But during these matches we also played witness to actions not typically found on bball courts. While one young player was rotated in, she noticed her grandparents had arrived and took leave from the game to acknowledge her entire family with hugs before returning to her position on the floor. The athlete sporting the No. 1 jersey loved playing so much that he was begrudgingly led from the court in tears when it was his turn to rotate out. And my nephew Caleb? Though he’s a Troy Bolton wannabe who achieved one two-pointer that would make his idol proud, he spent most of his time running up and down the sidelines with a smile on his face instead of fully immersing in the game. I can’t remember the last time I thoroughly enjoyed basketball.

This kind of sporting event not only provides an occasion for the participants to share their gifts with family, other Olympians and the community, but also with an opportunity to belong to a team, to demonstrate courage and to excel.

Isn’t that really all any of us strives to achieve?