Local Special Olympics basketball teams score big wins

Submitted by the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County

On Jan. 13, all three of the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County's Special Olympics basketball teams came out with a victory.

SRACLC's Crusaders-Black played the NISRA Thundercats, winning 20-8. Center Joey Hanson of Hawthorn Woods led the Crusaders with a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds.

A standout performance was also given by Grayslake's Tim Luhr, who was the team's top defender with five steals. Some hard defense was played by Antonio Esch of Vernon Hills, pulling down five rebounds and grabbing a steal. The Crusaders-Black are now 3-3 for the season.

SRACLC's Crusaders-Red also came out ahead on their Tuesday night game against Little City-White, 46-20. Grayslake's Amanda Dingman's shooting earned the team an incredible 12 points and aided in their win. Hawthorn Woods' Kelly Corbin and Lincolnshire's Tim Phelps each scored five baskets for another 20 points. On defense was Matt Stubbs of Lincolnshire, who played a strong game with six steals and three rebounds.

The Crusaders-Silver took on the NWSRA-Purple Lightning. Lead scorer of the night was forward Ryan Chapin of Libertyville with 16 points. Close behind him was point guard Bridget Carroll from Mundelein, who managed to score 14 points. Erik Anderson of Lake Zurich played some aggressive defense along with Jen Wilson of Mundelein, who took down eight rebounds. The final score was 52-32, bringing the Crusaders-Silver to 4-2 for the season.

Kelly Weber, SRACLC Special Olympics coordinator, said, "Our athletes always step on the court ready to play to their highest potential. Their passion and drive to be the best they can be always inspires our coaches and fans."

In addition to offering Special Olympics sports, team and individual, SRACLC also provides other programs for individuals with disabilities. SRACLC offers summer camps where participants can socialize with others their age and engage in a variety of fun-filled activities. Special events and weekly programs are also offered, covering an extensive range of activities and interests, starting at ages 3 and older.

For more information or to register for programs, contact the SRACLC office at (847)-816-4866, visit www.sraclc.org, or like SRACLC on Facebook.

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