Basketball Tournaments are Awesome

Most folks know March Madness. At Bustin’ Barriers there’s also Fired-up February. Special athletes gather each February for our Annual Adapted Basketball Tournament. For two days they are fired-up for spirited competition, great basketball and fun. Middle, high school and transition program athletes are on the court.

This year, 275 athletes competed (our largest number ever). Teams came from Portland, David Douglas, Centennial, and Parkrose school districts, 24 teams in all. Athletes ran, made their way down the court on crutches, in wheelchairs or assisted. It didn’t matter how athletes got down the court, the goal was to make a basket and many were. Cheers abounded!  Pom poms waved! Play by play commentary and an official scoreboard tracked the action. Whether a basket was made in an adapted or standard hoop, seeing that ball fall through the hoop delighted athletes, their teams, volunteers and the cheering bleachers. Pride abounded!

Thank you to Cleveland High School, our host and tournament site for many years. Their student volunteers were invaluable. They helped with set-up, welcomed teams, refereed, took photos and supported athletes as they busted barriers. It was a great two days.

How fortunate our community of basketball lovers are – there was Fired-up February to be followed by March Madness. Game on- everyone!