Tillsonburg’s D Basketball Team Claims Championship in Sarnia

On January 26, Special Olympics Tillsonburg’s D basketball team achieved their primary goal in Sarnia.

They had a blast.

And the team performed well, said Adam Todd, winning five games to secure the D Division championship.

“Played hard… and good.”

Tillsonburg triumphed over Woodstock 16-6 in the final match at Sarnia St. Patrick’s High School. Other teams competing included Sarnia, La Salle, and London, but it wasn’t the same London team they’ve faced at their own tournament in Tillsonburg.

Some centers had relatively new ‘D’ teams, including host Sarnia, and the Tillsonburg players prioritized sportsmanship.

“We let them shoot to keep it fair,” said Anne Marie D’Hondt. “And we allowed them to grab their own rebounds.”

“They worked together really well,” remarked coach Doug Cooper, one of four coaches on the team (along with Mark Phipps, Robert Verhoeve, and Ashley Ward). “What impressed us most was the sportsmanship displayed during the Sarnia tournament.”

Rather than running up the score, Cooper mentioned they took their time, ran down the clock, and gave the other team chances to score as well.

“I was prouder of them for that than for going undefeated.”

<p“They played excellently as a unit,” noted Phipps. “It actually made coaching them tough… trying to get them to ease up.”

<p“The final game was close,” added Verhoeve while acknowledging that sportsmanship remained a priority throughout the tournament.

<p“No one tried to take control on their own – there were plenty of passes, smiles, and every player had a shot at scoring. When it looked like we were pulling ahead in points, our players even started passing to the other team. Good sportsmanship was definitely the focus of the day.

<p“I felt very proud of our skilled and dedicated basketball squad,” Verhoeve continued. “Witnessing everyone come together as a team is incredibly rewarding.”

Experience made all the difference in Sarnia. The newest member of Tillsonburg’s squad is Adam Todd who joined this season but has six years of basketball experience from being coached by his dad before moving from Port Hope, Ont.

<p“I relocated here from Port Hope and I’ve made new friends here,” shared Todd who also takes part in Special Olympics bowling… and he plans to join the slo-pitch team this summer.

D’Hondt along with teammates Matt Mac Neil, Corey Mulholland and others have 16-17 years of basketball experience in Tillsonburg. The rest of their teammates are somewhere between those two ends.

<P“The group you see now has been together for four years,” stated coach Cooper.

This experience benefits both as individuals and as a collective unit.

<P“Oh yes! It definitely does,” replied Todd while pointing out how well they pass ball among each other.

<P“Yes indeed; over time it really helps,” agreed Mac Neil.

Their play style at Sarnia showed professionalism – they didn’t show off or overly celebrate according to Mac Neil.

“Wait for our next tournament and give it another go,” added Mac Neil.

Tillsonburg D has two more tournaments scheduled this month – February 9th in St. Thomas and February 23rd back home in Tillsonburg (at Glendale High School) where they’re expecting La Salle, Sarnia and St. Thomas again. The local D Rec team will also be partaking in their home tourney.

The D squad which finished second last year hopes once again to enjoy themselves during their own tournament.

“To go out there have fun,” said Cooper outlining what matters most for them.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking – having fun!” responded D’Hondt.

“Have fun,” Todd nodded eagerly.

“Winning or losing doesn’t count; just make sure you’re having fun,” emphasized Cooper.

“Exactly,” agreed D’Hondt.

Phipps added that getting everyone on board for at least one basket is another goal they’d like strive toward too!

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