Hopewell Indians take on staff in basketball game

COSHOCTON – The Hopewell Indians basketball teams took on staff from the Coshocton County Board of DD in an exciting ending to their basketball season.

The staff versus the players basketball game has been a tradition for 21 years and it’s a night the players really look forward to. “It has been a mix of wins over the years but we don’t keep track of those scores. Players and staff just love the fun atmosphere of the game,” said Toby Collins, director of recreation and Special Olympics for the CCBDD.

The Hopewell Indians have three teams. The red team is the school age division and has 10 players. They ended the season with a record of four wins and one loss.  The black team (adult division three) has 13 players and had a record of four wins and four losses. The white team finished with one win and three losses. That team has 12 players.

The teams have seven cheerleaders and three pep club members.

The red team played for the state championship on March 23 but lost to the Franklin County Comets Green team by a score of 59-26.

Javanna Ramsey is one of the coaches of the black team and said the players played really well this year. “We had some hard challenges, but the players all really improved. They are planning on coming back next year and winning the state championship.”

A large crowd gathered in the gym at Coshocton High School on March 26 to watch the players take on the staff. Before the game, many predictions were made.  Julieann Spaulding is one of the staff who was playing. “I always play. It’s fun and a good time for everyone.” She predicted the staff would win with a score of 60-40.

Ramsey laughed and said her prediction was staff 150 and players 20. Beth Tumblin, a cheerleader for the staff team, said she thought the players would win 65-60.

Players Nick McElhaney and Brandon Corder were sure the players would win.  McElhaney predicted the players would score 85 points and not let the staff score any. Corder was the closest of all the predictions with his of players 61 and staff 59. The final score was staff 50 and players 49. It was tied at the end of regular time but both teams wanted one minute more to play so a winner could be declared. A player was fouled and got three shots, making one, but the staff dropped one in the basket right before the buzzer sounded.

Collins wanted to remind everyone that the Special Olympics Bowling team will be in its first tournament of the year in Zanesville on Saturday, April 27.

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