Community Corner

NJ Hawks take Gold Medal in Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament

Team featured youth from Springfield and elsewhere in Union County.

Recently, Special Olympics New Jersey held their spring festival, including the State Basketball tournament. Local program the New Jersey Hawks had three out their six basketball teams qualify to go to Wildwood where the state tournament is held every year at the end of March.

New Jersey Hawk team the Grayhawks played four grueling games to come out on top as the 2012 SONJ Division VII Champions. After winning their first game by a commanding 20 – 10 score the second game was a hard fought 27 – 25 win which came in the last seconds with a nice 2 point layup by Ryan Mulcahey of Cranford, NJ. in the final seconds after a full four periods of swapping for the lead with their opponent.

But the most rewarding victory came in Game 3 when the opposing team jumped out to a quick 10 – 0 lead in the first period and the Grayhawks thought their gold medal hopes were over. But then in the second period they managed to hold off the opposing team and put a few points on the board giving them a bit of confidence, in the third period the Grayhawks again playing tough defense were able to keep their opponent to minimal points while adding to their total and by the end of the third period were back in the game trailing by only two points.

Find out what's happening in Springfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The fourth period was a see saw which with only seconds left and trailing by two points looked dim, but then after the coaches called a time out the Grayhawks got the ball at half court with only 1.6 seconds left on the clock.

Gabrielle Gilio of Boonton inbounded the ball to Joshua Powell of Springfield, NJ. who took a beautiful jump shot for 2 points to tie the game at the buzzer. The Grayhawks went on to win 31- 27 and after a fourth tournament game which they won 20 – 8 received the Gold Medal.

Find out what's happening in Springfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In addition to the basketball program the New Jersey Hawks also field six soccer teams, a softball team, a swim team and bowling. The group has grown from seven to 80 members in a period of about seven years and member disabilities range from Downs Syndrome to all Autism spectrum disabilities for more information on the group you can visit their website

-Robert Carvajales 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here