Sharks fall just short of winning AAASP title

WARNER ROBINS — The differences between wheelchair basketball and the able-bodied version of the game are obvious, but a few concepts hold constant in both.

First, if a team isn’t making shots, there’s a good chance it’s going to lose. And second, losing hurts, especially in a championship game.

Such was the case for the Houston Sharks wheelchair team Saturday in the title game of the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs junior varsity state tournament. The Sharks were held scoreless in four of the six periods and lost 9-6 to the DeKalb Eagles in the title game at Warner Robins High School.

“If we could have had a couple of shots fall, we could have won,” Sharks assistant coach Ryan Brown said, “but that’s basketball.”

Just shy of four months ago, Houston celebrated a state championship in team handball. But against top-seeded DeKalb, the Sharks couldn’t match the feat. Jeffery Wiggins, a Warner Robins student and one of the heroes of the handball run, fought back tears after the basketball loss. He preferred the emotions that come with victory.

“It was still fun,” he said after a moment. “We didn’t win, but we tried our best.”

That’s such an important aspect to the program, according to Sharks head coach Brenda Arnett. Also the Demonettes’ softball coach, Arnett has more than 20 years experience as an athletics coach. Leading the Sharks presents special challenges, but it offers special rewards.

“You really don’t understand until you get out there and watch them,” she said.

The effort is there. Saturday, so too was the support. The Sharks played before enthusiastic crowds in both the semifinal (a 12-4 win over Henry County) and final.

“It helped motivate me,” Wiggins said. He scored eight points in the semifinal win, including six in the fifth period.

Eight teams took part in the day’s action. There were semifinal matchups in both the junior varsity and varsity divisions. The varsity championship will be decided Saturday at the Gwinnett Arena to coincide with the GHSA Class AAAAA and AAAA finals.

Leslie Sweatman, one of the JV game officials and a former state coordinator of the AAASP, said she thought Warner Robins High proved to be a good spot for the tournament.

The gym is wheelchair accessible, and there is ample room for teams to warm up when not playing.

“But the big thing was that the volunteer base was great,” she said. “They have tremendous volunteer support. We knew they’d have the people to run the tournament.”

AAASP funding from the state was eliminated then quickly restored in July of 2009. Arnett said she hopes that won’t be a problem in the future.

“They can’t take this away from these kids,” she said. “Some of them, that’s all they have.”

The Sharks won’t have long to dwell on their disappointment. Practice for the wheelchair football season opens next week.