GORHAM, Maine — The Aroostook County Snowdogs Special Olympics basketball teams had brilliant showings at the state tournament held March 15 at the University of Southern Maine.
The White team defended its Div. II title by winning four consecutive games to win the gold medal, while the Blue team, participating in Div. I, went 4-2 to take second place and the silver medal.
The 29 Snowdog players, along with their coaches and members of the support staff, departed Presque Isle on a chartered motor coach the morning of March 14. They spent two nights at a hotel in Westbrook, had a bowling/pizza party, swam in the hotel’s indoor pool, visited the Maine Mall in South Portland and enjoyed meals along the way in Hermon, Bangor and South Portland.
In the one-day double-elimination tournament, the White team needed a buzzer-beating basket to win its semifinal but finished undefeated.
The Blue team came in third place in its division in 2013, but improved on that by winning its first game, losing its second and then reeling off three consecutive victories to make it to the finals, where they were beaten by OHI of the Bangor-Brewer area.
“I was so proud of the medals each team won and it was exciting to watch their excitement on the podium, but for me the most impressive part of the weekend was to witness how well the Snowdogs represented themselves on and off the basketball court with their positive interaction amongst each other, their opponents, the officials and the fans watching the events,” said the teams’ coach, Brian Hamel.
“It was also heartwarming to see the 75 people who traveled from afar to cheer on the Snowdogs. The teams’ fan base was by far the largest and most vocal of the fans cheering on all Special Olympians. It was a weekend to remember and I am so proud and privileged to be the head coach. They are a first-class act,” he added.
