By Brian Zanzonico
The sequence prompted oohs and ahhs from not only the crowd at Floral Park Memorial High School, but from the Long Island Lightning's opponents as well.
But the Lightning, the 2005 U.S. Junior National wheelchair champions, weren't playing one of their bitter out-of-state rivals. If that were the case, the game would have been played at a break-neck pace, and bone-crunching collisions would have been plentiful. Instead, Lightning players rebounded the opponents' missed shots and politely returned them to the shooter - even after a dozen straight misses.
Why this uncharacteristic show of charity? Because the other team comprised able-bodied teachers seated in borrowed competition wheelchairs, competing in the school's fourth annual wheelchair basketball fund-raiser.
For the last four years, teachers from Floral Park Memorial and Sewanhaka high schools have formed a team to compete, one night only, against the Lightning. The goal is to raise money to offset some of the costs of playing on a team in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, organizers said. Teams in the league travel across the country to compete. But school districts, like Sewanhaka, typically don't help fund the teams, and the players' parents foot the bill. Throw in the cost of a competition wheelchair, which is made of a lightweight material designed to absorb punishment and is about the price of a decent used car, and wheelchair basketball is one expensive hobby.
Four years ago, Lopez's sister, Keriann, was assigned a public service project. Lopez was new to the Lightning, and Keriann knew wheelchair basketball players were in need of fund-raising. She spoke to officials at Floral Park Memorial, and hoped to organize a charity event between the Lightning and students at the school, Lopez said. Because of insurance reasons, Keriann and officials decided to ask teachers to play instead.
According to Lopez's mother, Thea, the event raised about $700 the first year. It grew steadily the next two years, taking in $2,000 and $3,000, respectively. Last Friday, it coincided with other events in the district, and only about $800 was raised, Thea Lopez said.
Teachers use competition wheelchairs no longer used by Lightning players. From the first whistle, they seemed unsteady, unable to coordinate between rolling the wheels of the chair and dribbling the ball - there must be one dribble for every two strides or traveling is called. Shooting proved even more difficult for the teachers, as they had to come to a complete stop before tossing up a shot.
On the other end of the court, the Lightning displayed the moves that made them national champs last year, and seventh in the nation this year. No-look passes hit the intended receiver in stride; half-court bounce passes split two defenders and hit a racing Lightning player under the hoop. It was a clinic akin to the adroit Harlem Globetrotters versus the inept Washington Generals.
"It's hard," Lopez said. "For someone not used to being in a wheelchair, trying to do that and play basketball is like a football player picking up a mitt and bat. We had to give them as much help as we could."
Wheelchair basketball is as physical a game as traditional basketball. Players are routinely ejected from their lightweight competition chairs, scuffles are commonplace and trash-talking is abundant. The only difference between traditional basketball and wheelchair basketball is that in the latter, everything is done from the seat. Rainbow 3-pointers, rejections, lay-ups, tip-offs - all while strapped in by a lap belt. If a player lifts off the seat or uses a functional leg to control the wheelchair, a physical-advantage foul is called.
But with the rules relaxed, the Lightning had to lay off. They helped the teachers as much as they could, and trailed by 10 at the half. But in the end, the Lightning became less giving, and prevailed 52-50. "We were getting a little nervous, so we had to turn it on a bit," Lopez said. "We couldn't lose."
Floral Park Athletic Director Don Lang said teachers from both Sewanhaka and Floral Park look forward each year to what has now become a tradition. "We always get 15 to 20 teachers who want to play," he said. "And they don't realize how much fun it really is until they start."
Elmont resident Brianna Copeland, the only girl on the Lightning, said she was impressed with the effort the teachers gave. "They teachers have improved from last year," said Copeland, a defensive stopper who was on the court when the Lightning won the title last year. "They gave us a good game."
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