National Wheelchair Basketball Association NEWSLETTER 110 S.alon 8ulldln!il ullngton. KY XXXI V August 29, 1994 Number 2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 3. On the international level, we have had considerable successs with our men's and As we approach the start of the 1994-95 women's teams as they played in the Gold Cup season, I would like to draw the memberships' World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta attention to some significant developments in and Stoke Mandeville, England this s ummer. the sport. Thanks to USA Basketball who awarded grants of $50,000 to each team to cover expenses, 1. The annua1 meeting held in San Jose, the players were able to concentrate on CA in conjunction with the 46th NWBT had playing without the distraction of having to only 40 teams represented . In an Association raise funds as in t he past. An earlier $50 , 000 with 158 teams. the percentage of the was made available to the men's team as it was membershlp that decides on the welfare of the required to qualify in the IWBF Tournament of remaining 118 teams is diminishing year by the Americas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. year. The danger is that the voting power on proposed legislation affecting all teams is The men's gold and the women's silver concentrated in an ever decreasing number of medals are testimony to the solid support member teams. As a democratically based provided by USA Basketball. We take this organization. we would like to see more teams opportunity to thank Executive Director take part in the decision-making process . Warren Brown and the Executive Committee for their support. Philadelphia. PA, the cradle of liberty J democracy and freedom of expression. will be 4. The effort to resolve the issue of the the site of the next annual meeting, March 24 U.S. team's gold medal won in the 1992 and 25, 1995. What a boost to the sport and Paralympic Games in Barcelona has received a the Association it would be to have a majority tremendous boost with the announ ced support of teams represented in the meetings, instead of the International Wheelchair Basketball of a minority. What happens then would be Federation. This welcome action taken by the more reflective of the mood and will of the IWBF on July 28 is to invite the International entire NWBA. Paralympic Committee to become a party to arbitration before the IOC Court of I challenge all teams that have a sincere Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. If that interest in the future of the NWBA and that fails, the IWBF will resolve the issue within have not participated in past annual meetings its own ranks - that is, among the four to make the effort to attend the 1995 AGM. member nations involved in the medal We will all benefit from that commitment. And distribution - the U.S. , Holland, Germany at the same time, those representatives will and France. We look forward to a final and get some insight into the democratic workings binding agreement in the next several months . of the NWBA - a situation not present in most sport organizations for athletes with Marvin Lapicola, Presiden t disabilities. u. S. WINS GOLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP 2. The annual national tournaments - for men, women, collegians and juniors - have T he U.S. men's team turned back a strong been extremely well organized Bnd for the challenge by a dogged and determined Great first time in memory, one seBson has ended Britain team to defeat them 67 - 53 to regain with the location of the next season's national the world championship in the 1994 Gold Cup championship already decided. It is tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, July 21-30 . rewarding to know that teams, conferences, and civic organizations throughout the nation The U. S. thus won its fourth champions hip in are ready and eager to host a championship. the six tournamen ts played to date and dating We know for example that the NWBT has back to 1975 . France came in as the bidders through 1997. Anyone interested in defending champion, having triumphed over the 50th NWBT in 1998? the Americans in the last Gold Cup in Bruges , 2 Belgium in 1990 by a score of 62-61. managed as the point spread indicated. In each case, the U.S. edged out to a Both teams played nip-and-tuck basketball comfortable lead only late in the game. throughout the first half. U.S. coach Brad Against Germany, for example, the U. S. was Hedrick chose to play an inside game with the down by 10 points at the half, 24-34. result thot 19 points come off layups and short 5 to lO-footers inside the paint. Twin As the team entered the semi-finals I Colton towers, Reggie Colton and Darryl Waller was the second high scorer in the helped out with 7 offensive rebounds and 13 tournament, averaging 22.8 points per game. points between them. Great Britain was not Johnson was ninth at 14.2. Colton also had to be au tdone though, as they tied the score the second most rebounds, 59 for an 11.8 per at 26 with les8 than two minutes remainjng in game avenge. Johnson was second in assists the half. Mike SchIappi's two free throws and with a total of 20. Trooper Johnson's field goal with one second left on the clock gave the U.S. a f.-point SEMI FINAL GAMES margin going into the intermission at 30-26. In the semi-final game against Canada, the The second half started out no less U. S. broke into an early lead and widened it relentlessly in the offensive and defensive to 25 at the half, 48-23. Continuing its hot play of both teams. With only seven minutes hand in the second half, the team took the to play I Great Britain was still hanging on game away from the Canadians with an tenaciously, txalling by only 4. points at 53- outstanding display of shooting and defensive 49. The U.S. then went on B determined play. Mark Shepherd turnI!d in a flawless run, outscoring the Brits 14-4 the rest of the performance while scoring B game high 18 wayan the strength of six free throws and points on 9 of 12 shooting from the field. four field goa1s. Darryl Waller and Trooper Johnson followed • with 16 and 14 respectively. To the degree that the starting five players are expected by the coach to contribute As a team, the U.S. hit on 36 of 70 field goal equally and evenly to a team's overall effort, attempts for a 51\ record. Canada, by the U. S. team was a classic example. The contrast made only 21 of 56 for 37\, six of five starters, Mike Schlappi, Mark Shepherd, which were scored from 3-point range . Dave Reggie Colton, Trooper Johnson and "Tree" Durepos' team-leading 12 points came on .. Waller did all the scoring - Schlappi, three-pointers in 10 attempts. Pat Griffin Shepherd and Colton with 14 each, Johnson was Canada's second-high scorer with 7, with 13 and Waller with 12. The quintet took foUowed by Grant Strohback and Jeff Dennis 52 of the team's 54 field goal attempts and hit with 7 and 6 points respectively. on 27 for a 50\ team mark. The second semi-finaI game ..... highlighted For Great Britain, Steve Caine, a one- time by a dramatic finJsh in "hlch Great Britain player for the University of Kentucky Wheel scored 6 points to overcome a 5-point defic:lt Kats, and Calum Gordon split scoring honors with less than 15 seconds left on the clock to with 12 points apiece. Joe Jayaratne defeat defending world champion France, 48- contributed 8 and Dan Johnson 6. Colin Price 47. was the only player to foul out, departing after scoring 5 points and putting out a great The bronze medal game was all Canada as the offensive and defensive effort. The team's team won its second consecutive bronze medal overall shooting percentage came to 53\ on 26 in Gold Cup play, 72~62 over France. Chris field goals in 49 attempts. Somis led Canada with 14 points. Jim Enright scored 13 and Eric Corsault and Pat Griffin PRELIMINARY ROUND GAMES each bad 11 . Philippe Baye took scoring honors for France with 23 points. In earlier action, the U. S., ranked second in the tournament but the top team in Pool B, The scores of all games are appended to this defeated Brazil 97-40, Australia 88-56, Spain Newsletter. 69-43, Great Britain 66-49 and Germany 75- 51. The games against Australia, Great Britain and Germany were not as easily 3 GOLD CUP FACTS Barcelona, Spain. Breih1 played on the 1990 Pan Am Games team I while Neville, Gill and o The U. S. did not attempt any 3-point Hays were on the roster of the 1993 team that field goals during the tournament won a gold medal at Stoke Mandeville, England. Waller has played on national teams o The U.S. ave.raged 79 points per game. entered in the 1988 Paralympic Games in their opponents 50 over 7 games. as they Seoul, Korea and the 1990 World Championship exceeded by 5 points the average 24-point in Bruges, Belgium. difference compiled by the 1986 gold medal winning team in Melbourne, Australia Brad Hedrick (University of Illinois) headed the coaching staff. He bad previously o Steve Welch, in coming off the bench, coached internationally as assistant to the averaged 76\ shooting (13 of 18) women's gold medal winning team in the 1982 Pan Am Games in Halifax, NS and as head o Mexico brought its entire national team coach of the gold medal winning team in the to Edmonton to observe the lO-day tournament 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, Korea.