You didn’t have to enjoy basketball to enjoy a special game at OIT Monday night…
Special Olympian Bradi Dowell says she’dbeen looking forward to the game all year long.
“Yes! I’m very excited to see my friends again, and my favorite number, 33 – Alex Zerbach.”
In a game so big it took two courts, the OIT Hustlin’ Owl men and women took on the Special Olympians – and as OIT Men’s basketball coach Danny Miles notes, the Olympians were more than game: “Boy, you know they beat us 33 years in a row. They just seem to make the big plays down the stretch.”
OIT player Kyle Waits says the Owls have learned a few things from the Special Olympians…
“They have a lot of fun, is the main thing. And when you’re having fun on the court, that leads to success – which is relative with our team as well.”
And what to the Special Olympians have when it comes time to get on the court Olympian Rainn Parker says “Guts, and courage, and spirit.”
Lady Owl Aundrea Albright notes that the Olympians are also some of the Owl’s biggest fans: “Oh, they’re always here every home game. They’re a big support group for us, always there behind our bench, yelling for us.”
In the end, the Olympians beat the Owls by 73 to 72.
But Bradi Dowell says neither team really lost…
“Both teams are going all the way.”
Monday’s game with the Olympians was a non-conference contest. The Owls hope to rebound Saturday night when they play Southern Oregon University. The women’s game starts at 5:30, followed by the men at 7:30.
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