Beavercreek鈥檚 Rolling Beavers wheelchair basketball team continues to grow
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — Beavercreek has been a-buzz about basketball! Back in November, Beavercreek High School held a Meet the Teams Night in the Ed Zink Fieldhouse. It was standing room only as family, friends, and fans came out in droves to support Beavercreek basketball. Cheery cheerleaders kept the crowd energized while the throng of admirers enjoyed meeting and applauding the teams. It was a great night for rallying school spirit and a lively kick-off to the much anticipated basketball season.
By far the team that received the highest applause, however, was the Rolling Beavers, Beavercreek’s interscholastic wheelchair basketball team. Now in its second year, the Rolling Beavers are making a strong go of it! Participation is skyrocketing and interest in playing on the team so high I wouldn’t be surprised if the need for a second team arose in the near future.
Watching a basketball game is truly a beautiful sight. Individual players let their talent shine through yet all must work together in synergy and unity to advance the game. On Saturday, January 21, 2023, the Rolling Beavers celebrated their first win, scoring 26-22 against the Columbus Prep Knights. The two teams were well matched and it was an excellent competition. In my humble opinion, the greatest moments of the game were had as each team clapped and cheered when their opponent scored. What a feeling of comradery within the sport! As the Beavers pulled out that well deserved win, they no doubt entered into their second game of the day against the Cincinnati Dragons pumped up with a feeling of elation. Win or lose, though, it’s how you play the game, and the Rolling Beavers know how to play with integrity and heart.
Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith, an instructor in physical education at the International Young Men鈥檚 Christian Association Training School. The sport got its name from the half-bushel peach baskets Naismith used as goals. Naismith worked to devise a game that would be less dangerous, attempting to eliminate body contact between players and he prohibited walking or running with the ball. This is still the basis of the game today. Basketball was originally played with nine players per team as Naismith’s physical education classes were composed of 18 men. This was later reduced to five players per team.
Wheelchair basketball was first played in 1946 by World War II veterans, many of whom returned home with varying degrees of paralysis. The first games were played in California and Massachusetts at Veterans Administration hospitals. In some cases, the veterans would compete against the doctors who practiced medicine there. Since then, the sport has gained considerable recognition. Wheelchair basketball has featured at the Paralympic Games since the 1960’s.
If you’re now as hooked on basketball as we are, consider a road trip to Springfield Massachusetts to visit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame which is dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level.
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