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| Aroostook Republican photo/Jon Gulliver Austin Hansen of the Aroostook Snow Dogs looks to make a move during a recent scrimmage. After six weeks of practice this was the first opportunity for the Special Olympics basketball team to play an outside opponent. |
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
PRESQUE ISLE — After more than six weeks of conditioning, drills and learning the fundamentals, the Aroostook Snow Dogs Special Olympics basketball team finally got to face a real opponent on Wednesday as the Presque Isle boys basketball teams, from varsity to freshmen, provided some competition.
Presque Isle varsity coach Terry Cummings said he was approached by Snow Dog coach Brian Hamel about a scrimmage and gladly obliged.
“When I received the request we were definitely going to make it happen,”said Cummings. “They support us and look up to the guys so it is very important that we support them in their endeavors as well.”
The Snow Dogs are prepping for the state Special Olympics tournament in the spring and scrimmages like this help the athletes build on their skills, but it’s not just the Special Olympians who took something away from the game.
“There were so many positive comments from all of our players,” Cummings explained. “It was a game they will never forget, that is for sure.”
Coach Hamel said his players relayed the same sentiment.
“Before, during and after our game with the PIHS boys, our athletes were so pumped up,” said Hamel. “They had a tremendous time, as was evidenced by the smiles on their faces. They were proud of the way they played, and I was proud of the way they represented themselves and their teammates. This was a perfect 10 in my book.”
The scrimmage was also extremely well attended with one side of the PIHS stands nearly half-full.
“The support from the crowd was tremendous and to be honest I believe the players were very surprised with how full the stands were,” Hamel said. “This says a lot about our community and to have them there supporting our players meant the world to them.”
The big crowd also led to a few cases of nerves for the athletes as one player said as he was checking into the game for the first time.
“Coach, I have lots of butterflies in my stomach,” he said. To which Hamel told him to take a few deep breaths and he would get through it fine. He did, and after his turn on the floor, he proudly said how awesome he felt.
Although the excitement and good feelings were evident the entire game, this was also a time for the Special Olympians to showcase what they have been working on during practices.
“We had 21 players participating in this event and, as a coach, it is very important to me that each of them learn from each other and all have an opportunity to experience the competition,” said Hamel. “I was so proud of their effort on the court, attitude, sportsmanship, teamwork, competitiveness, and most importantly how much fun they had with their new found friends on the PIHS boys teams.”
As the coach Hamel also addressed some areas the players need to work on such as rebounding and going after loose balls.
The Presque Isle girls will provide the next scrimmage opponent for the Snow Dogs on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Presque Isle High School gym.
