Gwinnett Heat Sink Houston County Sharks to Win State Wheelchair Basketball Title
Heat End Streak of 8 Championship Titles for Sharks
(Atlanta, March 18, 2021) The Gwinnett Heat found their zone against the Houston County Sharks to win the 2021 American Assocation of Adapted Sports Program (AAASP)/Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Varsity Wheelchair Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 13th at the Macon Coliseum, as part of the state championship line up that day. The Houston County Sharks were looking to make it 9 in a row, but the Gwinnett Heat had a different outcome in mind. The Heat had already beaten the Sharks twice during the regular season and were determined to make it 3 in a row for the the most important game of the season – the State Championship! The Heat jumped out to an early lead in the first half - 32-9, and never looked back, winning with the final score of 42-25.
The Sharks launched a second half comeback, but the Heat offensive power from Seniors, Will Millikan and Seth Earley, who combined for 20 and 18 points, along with a true team effort from the rest of the Heat, proved to be too much to overcome the deficit.
Students representing over 40 varying physical disability groups competed this year. The top teams in the JV and Varsity divisions competed last weekend for qualification. The Junior Varisty Championship Game was held Saturday, February 27, 2021, between the Houston County Jr. Sharks and the West Georgia Wolverines. The West Georgia Wolverines took the Junior Varsity State Title. The Varsity Semifinals were also held last weekend; the Gwinnett Heat defeated the Henry Hurricanes to make it to the Varsity Finals; Houston Sharks beat out DeKalb Silver Streaks to earn their spot.
Teams from the following school districts participated in the AAASP/GHSA adapted sport of wheelchair basketball this year, a dual governing alliance in the Varsity Division –DeKalb Silver Streaks, Gwinnett Heat, Henry Hurricanes, and the Houston Sharks. The Houston Jr. Sharks, West Georgia Wolverines and the Muscogee Lions competed in the Junior Varsity Division – Click here to view the AAASP #wheelchairbasketball schedule that led up to the finals.
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Inc. (AAASP) is celebrating its 25th year anniversary this year of bringing interscholastic wheelchair sports to schools. GHSA formed the nation’s first dual governing alliance with AAASP in 2001 to pioneer efforts in school adapted athletic programs for students with physical disabilities. Through this alliance, GHSA recognizes AAASP as the governing and sanctioning body for adapted sports programs for Georgia’s schools. For more information on Wheelchair Basketball, for a copy of the rules, or how to start a team in your area, please log on to: http://adaptedsports.org. Schools or districts can learn more about becoming a member of AAASP by contacting us 404-294-0070 or the Georgia High School Association.
The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia since 1996, has developed one of the nation’s most comprehensive school-based athletic programs for children with physical disabilities attending grades 1-12. Many prominent individuals and national organizations in the industry have recognized AAASP as the model for the nation. For more information about AAASP, please visit our website at www.adaptedsports.org or join our conversations on Facebook (American Association of Adapted Sports Programs), Twitter or Instagram at: @AdaptedSports
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Contacts: Terri Grunduski, Grunduski Group – terri@grunduskigroup.com 404-226-7497
Donna Feazell, Grunduski Group – donna@grunduskigroup.com 404-290-1929
