-National Wheelchair Basketball Association

NEWSLEnER • • Unlv.,.lty of K«ItUc:Kl • t0501

Volume XXIII April 5, 1984 Number 9

CONDORS TAKE NWBT TITLE

Cass Col ina Condors successfully defended their national title with a 60 to 50 victory over the tough, but out-gunned, Music City Panthers in the 36th National Wheel­chair Basketball Tournament held in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. March 30 and 31 .

In a game which started out and ended at the half as a nip-aod-t uck affair , the Condors quickly pulled out 1n front ear ly in the second stanza and iced it down t he stretch wi t h as high as a 12-point lead. Curtis Bell scored 24 points and pul l ed down 13 rebounds to lead the Condors _ Playi ng-coach Dave Kiley netted 14 aod served up 8 assists despite playing the entire second half with 4 fouls . Music City made a game of it through the 12-minute mark of the second half, but in the final analysis , t hey were no match for the quicker Condors. Ron Alsup had 14 points and Rod Short 7 for the Panthers.

The consolation match was a thriller as Grand Rapids Pacers came back f r om an 8-point, hal f- t ime deficit to edge the Downriver Sparks 61 to 60 with a field goal with only seconds remaining on the clock . Doug DuPont claimed the hero ' s role wi t h the winning basket. The Pacers were led by Dave Kroon who scored 17 points while DuPont and Lee Montgomery each contributed 12 . Maurice Phi llips with 22 points and Leon Stur tz with 12 were the leading scorers for the Sparks .

Friday's semi-final matches provided some exciting action as Casa Colina outdid the Sparks 70-56 in the opener while Mus i c City squeezed out a 57- 54 overtime victory over the Pacers in the nightcap. The summary for these games as well as the statistics for the finals are included with this Newsletter.

Fo r the Condors , the 36t h NWBT was their second consecu t ive national championship and fourth in f i ve years . The team has appeared in all 6 national tournaments s ince it ' s inception in 1978 . The Panthers, as the Music City Wheelers , have been i n 9 of t he last 10 tournies - ever since the NWBA adopted the final-four format in 1975. Neither r ecord though, matches the Sparks ' 10 for 10 performance in the last decade. Known originally as Detroit, then Westland and now Downriver, the Sparks have t4ken 3 national t i t l es i n that perioJ . They own 1 overall.

Grand Rapids made the final four in its 11th year as an NWBA-member team . Narrowly miSSing in the 1983 Midwest Sectional when they lost to Sectional winner Chicago Sidewinders, the Pacers made t heir national tournament debut an impressive one with their t hird- place finish.

NWBT PLAYERS HONORED

The annual awards banquet following the championship game featured an address by Rafer Johnson, the 1960 Olympic Games gold medallist in the decathalon . Johnson, drawing on his extensive experience in athletic competition , paid tribute to the players in the KWHT wi t h praise for their competitiveness and skill.

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In the awards portion itself presided over byNWBA President. Harvin Lapicola , these were the winners announced: First-Team All- National Tournament: Curtis Bell . Dave Kil,ey snd Bob Nurdock . Casa Colina Condors; Maurice Phillips , Downriver Sparks and Dave Kroon . Grand Rapids Pacers , Second-Team All- National Tournament: Ron Ferris and Rod Short , Music City Panthers; Jim Mil~er. Casa Colina; Joe Sutika. Downriver; and Randy Nelson. Grand Rapids.

The Captain James S. Ure Award for Sportsmanship was won by Maurice Phillips of Downriver . It was Phillip'~ third Ure Award, having gained it first in 1980 in the 33rd NWBT at Charlotte. NC and again in 1983 at the 35th NWBT at Pomona, California.

The NWBA Most Valuable Player Award went to Dave Kiley of Casa Colina. He had won it previously in 1978 and 1982. tying him with Curtis Bell. the only other 3-time winner.

GAME OFFICIALS ASSIGNED TO 36th NWBT

The referees selected for the 36th NWBT were: David Haube, Woodhaven Michigan hom the Eastern Sectional; Gil Nieto, Lakewood, California from the Far West Sectional ; Robert Cannon, Nashville, Tennessee from the Southern Sectional; and Woodie Schultz, Grand Rapids, Michigan from the Midwest Sect i onal. lbeir alternates were respectively : Ted McLean , Pearl River. New York ; Ken Jackson. San Jose, California. Al Orr. Tampa Florida; and Paul Camitsch. St. Paul , Minnesota .

ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The annual meeting of the NWBA was attended by approximately 125 delegates representing 70 teams. Also in attendance were 35 conference presidents and Assistant Commissioners as well as many observers . Two sessions were held - the first on Thursdsy evening from 7 to 10 p . m. and the second through the day on Friday . NWBA President Marvin Lapicola presided over both sessions . Pending publication of the minutes and a fuller description of those meetings, these vere the highlights of the deliberations by the delegate body:

·Approved the proposition that players selected to the U.S. nation~l team should be responsible for funds required for membership r~ther than the NWBA team for which they play. This is the reverse of legislation passed in 1983.

' Approved , after 5 tries, Brooklyn's proposal that players over 40 years of age be permitted to be named to a team's roster without violating the IS-player limit i n effect for all teams.

· Approved the condition that a conference which ends up with 3 teams after the conference schedule starts, will be reduced to provisional status and limited to sending only one team into postseason competition.

·Gave over non-protested, same-conference . between-season player transfers to conference authority . Should a protest arise, the application for transfer would then have to be dealt with by the Commissioner.

·Inserted the proviso that in order for an independent team to be eligible to challenge a second-place conference team for a regional playoff berth , it would be required to have played at least 10 games against NWBA member teams.

·Established three standing Committees: Fund Raising, Player Classification, and Junior Development.

'Approved a minor amendment to the playing rules by clarifying that the front caster may be on or over the line for free throws.

'Authorized the Rules Committee to begin experimentation wllh lhe rule!:! by calilng for conferences to play a regular schedule of games with proposed changes to the rules drafted by the Committee.

'Heard a proposal for expanding the ~1-1BT to 12 teams and a commitment by t he Executive Committee to bring the matter before the membership .

'Re-elected Debbie Dillon of Bay Are~ Meteorites as Secretary of the NWBA for a 5-year term.

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PLAYERS SELECTED FOR U.S. TEAM ANNOUNCED

The NWBA Selection Committee for the U.S . Men ' s team ente~ed in international competition in 1984 announced the names of 20 players who will be invited to the NWBA tryout camp. President Lapicola. in making the announcement at the 36th NWBT Awards Banquet. explained that they were selected on the basis of the newly introduced 4-class international system. Four players were selected from each of class I and II and 6 from each of class III and IV. Those selected, and two alternateo in each class arc: Class I - Rick Helms , Triad Smokers; Mark Nelson, Golden State 76'ers; Anardo Valdez , EPVA Chargers; and Brian Welnsck, Dallas Mavericks. Alternates - Kevin Lowery . Golden State 76'ers and Bob Murdock, Casa Colina Condors. Class It - Chris Cooper , UT-Arlington Freewheelers; Rod Short , Music City Panthers; Joe Sutika , Downriver Sparks; and Manny Villa, Los Angeles Stars. Alternates - Leon Sturtz, Downriver Sparks and Ariel Roman, New Jersey Blue Devils. Class lIt - Albert Campos, Casa Colina Condors; David Efferson, Golden State 76 ' ers; David Kiley, Casa Colina Condors; Harold Rhoades, Colorado Rolling Cowboys; Randy Snow , UT-Arlington Freewheelers; and Jim Wooten , Birmingham Chariots. Alternates - Mike Elix , Golden State 76 ' ers and John Johnston, North Florida Renegades . Class IV - Raoul Bayardo, Los Angeles Stars; Curtis Bell, Cas a Colina Condors; Dick Christianson, Sioux Wheelers; Ed Owen , Lane County Lowriders; Maurice Phillips , Downriver Sparks ; and Darryl Waller, Detroit Wheelchair Pistons . Alternates - Pete Sanchez , Golden State 76 ' ers and David Kroon, Grand Rapids Pacers.

The coaches, selected earlier by a 5-member Committee, will be Bruce Karr of the Chicago Sidewinders and Frank Burns of the UW-Whitewater Rollin' Warhawks .

The 8-member National Selection Committee was made up of Tip Thiboutot and Ed Rowan representing the eastern section; Gary Blosser and Randy Nelson representing the Midwest, H. McCormack and Ron Williams representing the south and Bill Duncan and Leroy Ransom representing the far west section .

As explained in the accompanying article , the dates and location of the tryout camp have not been decided yet owing to the uncertainty of the dates and location of the international competitions .

U OF I REJECTS VII WORLD WHEELCHAIR GAMES - NEW VENUE IN ENGLAND SOUGHT

The VIlth World Wheelchair Games have been definitely cancelled at the University of Illinois. The announcement not to reconsider the earlier decision to cancel was made on March 19 following a meeting between Dr. Robert Jackson, President of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation and Dr. John Cribbett, Chancellor of the University . The final decision to cancel came about because the University had insisted that the Games' Board of Directors have accumulated sufficient funds to cover anticipated expenses no later than that date. Having failed to do so , and despite pleas by Dr. Jackson to reinstate the Games on the basis of funding promised from international sources , the University closed its doors to the Games.

In place of the games at Illinois , the ISMGF Executive Committee made a decision to reconstruct them at Stoke Mandeville England from J uly 21 to August 3, under the sponsorship of the British Paraplegic Sports Society. The BPSS at this writing, has not yet confirmed its ability to raise the necessary funds and will delay a final decision for at least a week to 10 days.

If the games are held at Stoke Mandeville some major problems related to wheelchair basketball will automatically arise. First, the facility consists of a single , tile surface court with inadequate lighting and \'entilation (at least not up to the standard expected for a world-class competition) and there is a very limited seating capacity . Two neighboring schools in the area have indoor basketball courts but no room for spectators at all . If these are the only facilities made available, some of the

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countries that field strong basketball teams may not compete.

Second, the number of athletes who could be accommodated at Stoke Mandeville would be limited to 900, placing severe restrictions on the number of athletes per country. particularly for those such as the U.S . • France. Germany, Italy and Great Britain . With 12 men basketball players and in some cases. 12 women players expected to compete from 8S many as 25 countries, those numbers tend to reduce significantly the spots available for athletes in other sports. It presents a real dilemma for team administrators, and of course, impacts on the sport of basketball.

At this date. the question as to whether or not the United States will enter a men's and a women's team in any scheduled competition is left to the NWBA Executive Committee. With this understanding and the probability of different dates for the competitions should they come off, the confirmation of the NWBA tryout camp is necessarily being deferred. We will keep the players selected and the membership fully informed as information reaches us and decisions are made.

BIDS CALLED FOR 37TH NWBT

There were no formal bids for the 37th NWBT submitted by the Constitutionally mandated February 1st date so the delegates to the annual meeting did not get a chance to vote on a handwritten bid submitted to the President by the Husic City Panthers just before the meetings. The issue caused some consternation because it was felt that the provision in the NWBA Constitution requiring prior notice should be set aside to allow for a vote. In the face of a decision by the chair to proceed with the opening of a new bidding period that requires a decision by the Executive Committee, the Husic City bid was withdrawn.

The situation as it stands now is that, with this announcement, bids are invited for the 37th NWBT during the 3D-day period beginning April 16. Any team conference or organization wishing to host the tournament is asked to submit the bid in writing to the Office of the Commissioner. All bids will be reviewed by the Executive Committee and a decision made no later than June 1.

EXPANSION OF NWBT DEBATED

Revived during the annual meeting, was an interest in reverting to a 12-team national tournament. For years, up to 1974, the NWBT consisted of 6. 8, 10 or 12 teams. As growth continued. the NWBT was reduced to 4 teams in response to the 3-tiered postseason competition favored by the Association. What was put before the delegates was a proposed 4-day tournament that included the top 3 teams from each of the sectional tournaments as they exist now. The first day would see each runner-up playing a 3rd-place team from another sectional, the winner matched with a sectional winner on the second day and the subsequent winners constituting a .Ifinal four" field that would enter into a semi-finals and finals over the next two days. The proposal was presented by Carl Cash of the Richmond Rimriders and Carl Kuhn, Assistant Commissione~ for the Capital Conference.

Following discussion and evident delegate support for the proposal, which was tied t o a willingness on the part of Husic City to implement the 12-team tournament in 1985 as part of its earlier bid. a motion was made to submit the question as a constitutional amendment to the membership of the NWBA for a mail vote. The chair explained and emphasi%ed that the motion cartied with it the condition that if it were able to do so , as interpreted by the Executive Committee, a mail vote on the question would be conducted .

Subsequently, the Executive Committee. informed of Music City's withdrawal of its bid (and indication of intent to bid on the 1986 tournament), decided that it would not be useful to conduct a mail vote . The committee agreed then, that it would draft a proposal to amend the Bylaws and present it to the membership for deliberation at next year ' s annual meeting . This would then allow anyone bidding on future tournaments to consider the expansion of the number of teams beyond the preaent four . There are two alternatives presently being reviewed by the Committee which read as follows:

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(a) "Modifications to Bylaw III-I2(a) through III-12(d) may be made for any national tournament providing such modifications are submitted 1n writing by the tournament sponsor and approved as prescribed In Bylaw 111-13". or

(b) "Modifications to Bylaw III-I2(a) through IlI-12(d) may be made at any annual meeting for any subsequent tournament . Proposed modifications must be submitted in writing by the tournament sponsor to the Secretary prior to the opening of the f1031 session to be approved by the majority of the membertf present and voting."

INTERNATIONAL RULES REVIEWED

Durtng the annual meeting. NWBA Commissioner Labanowich informed the delegate body of impending changes in the playing rules in the international version of the sport . The international rules, based on FIBA rules (which call for such departure from the NCAA rules as a 3O-secund clock inbounding from the sidelines except after baskets, and only two permissible timeouts per team, among other features) have been scrutinized by the member countries of the ISHGF to determine if changes are necessary to either improve the playing of the sport or bring it closer to the able-bodied version . The rules. proposals will be voted upon during the meetings scheduled to be held by the ISMGF Basketball Section in conjunction with the international competitions . The delegates to the NWBA annual meeting indicated disfavor with the following three proposals : (1) to alter the dribbling rule by discontinuing the dribble after 2 pushes or when the ball is held in one or both hands; (2) allowing an unlimited number of backward pushes (pivoting) while holding the ball with the other hand; (3) and reducing the 5-second rule to 3-seconds.

Two proposals were favored : (1) to allow class I, II and III players to use a 10 cm cushion and class IV players to use a 5 cm cushion; and (2) converting a foul involving a physical advantage into a "physical advantage foul" (PAF) rather than a technical foul, tvo of which means ejection from the game in the present rules.

THANK YOUS To Joe Greve and Chuck Wilson, Co-directors of the 36th NWBT, go many thanks and the

appreciation of the entire delegate body for their efforts in staging an excellent tourna­ment. They and the sponsoring organization, the Kansas City Wheelchair Athletic Committee, worked diligently over a two year period to put things together. Except for the trouble­some acoustics in the Little Theatre where the meetings were held, everything came off with great success. In his brief remarks during the banquet , Joe mentioned that their intent, when they won the bid two years ago. was to dedicate the tournament to the athletes aod to make all the arrangements with them primarily in mind. Well, as far as we ' re concerned, they succeeded . It was a great tournament for all and especially for the athletes .

Thanks as well go to the Paralyzed Veterans of America for their continued support of the tournament. Instrumental in securing $7,000. for the sponsors were Ed Rowan, PVA Spor ts Coordinator and Paul Chermeta, President of PVA. That kind of help goes a long way towards ensuring the success of the tournament. GRAFF AND MATHIS MAKE HALL OF FAME

Saul Welger. Chairman of the Hall of Fame, presided over the induction of two individuals into the NWBA Hall of Fame at the end of the 1984 Awards Banquet. Inducted were Jack Graff. long-time player for the Brooklyn Whirlaways and Bill Mathis, associated with the Cleveland Comets and the Lake Erie Conference for the past 30 years. Jack joins several other Brooklyn and Pan American Jets players from the Eastern Conference in the Hall of Fame (Saul Welger, Bernie Hengb~r , Charlie Tardalo. Julius Jiacoppo. Peter Acca, and Julius Kellogg preceded him) . Bill came into the game in the early fifties, initially as a coach. He later served as the Assistant Commissioner for the Conference. Our congratulations to both. They are truly deserving .

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10th NWWBT tWN BY SUNRISE

The Southern California Sunrise turned back the Twin Cities Wheels of Fortune 29-24 to win the 10th National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Tournament played in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 22 to 25 . The Sunrise thus captured their 3rd national title having won the NWWBT previously in 1980 and 1981. The Wheels of Fortune, whose players were the mainstay of the Twin Cities Rolling Gophers, twice national cilamplun::; in 1979 and 1982, tried valiantly to make this one their first .

Finishing in third place were the Gas a Colina Unicorns who downed the Bay Area Heteorites 17 to 14. Fifth place went to San Diego Sharps, 23-22 winners over Sacramento Gold Rush . Seventh place was claimed by Chicago's RIC Express who defeated Atlanta Phoenix 15-8 . Willamalane Shooting Stars rounded off the tournament field, winless in five tries. A composite team made up of players from various men's teams in the NWBA played an exhibition schedule, playing the teams in Pool A and emerging undefeated .

The scores of all games are included in the accompanying Standings and Statistics Report.

Twenty-nine games were played in all at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Tournament co-directors John Chambers and Terry Robertson put together an excellent tournament and helped to advance the cause of women ' s basketball greatly with their efforts. We extend our utmost thanks to them and their co-workers.

NWWBT ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM AND At~ARD WINNERS

First Team : Karen Casper, Mary Ann O'Neill and Kathy Miller. Twin Cities Wheels of Fortune; and Melody Williamson and Olivia Reyes, S. California Sunrise .

Second Team: Debbie Dillon, Susie Grimes and Kathy McMillan, Bay Area Meteorites; Tammy Riggs and Becky White , Cas a Colina Unicorns; and Karen Hinton of the Composite team.

Most Valuable Player - Melody Williamson, Southern California Sunrise

Timothy Vandermeiden Sportsmanship Award - Colleen Pearson, Sacramento Gold Rush

1984 U. S. WOMEN'S TEAM ANNOUNCED

The Selection Committee for the Women ' s Division announced the names of 12 players and 8 alternates selected to the 1984 national team. They are: Ann Cody . Sharon Hedrick. Rene Keres, and Barbara Yoss, University of Illinois Ms . Kids; Karen Casper . Kathy Miller and Mary Ann O'Neill. Twin Cities Wheels of Fortune; Susan Hagel and Bertie Hite, Twin Cities Rolling Gophers of Courage Center ; Olivia Reyes and Melody Williamson, Southern California Sunrise; and Tammy Riggs . Cas a Colina Unicorns .

The alternates are: Kris Keefe and Becky \fuite. Casa Colina Unicorns ; Tami Oothoudt and Sharon Limpert, Twin Cities Wheels of Fortune; Narina Gonzales . Southern California Sunrise; Susie Grimes, Sacramento Gold Rush; Kathy McMillan, Bay Area Meteorites ; and Darlene Quinlan, Downriver Sparks.

CASPER CHAIRS WOMEN ' S DIVISION

Karen Casper of the Twin Cities Wheels of Fortune was elected Chairperson of the Women's Division during the meetings held in conjunction with th~ 10th NWWBT. She replaces Debbie Dillon of Bay Area Meteorites, and Secretary of the NWBA who announced her resignation prior to the meetings .