Island Gazette

Ashley Exceptional Children Buddies Club hosted 1st ever ECBC; Project UNIFY Unified Basketball Tournament

On Thursday, May 24, 2012, Ashley Exceptional Children Buddies Club (ECBC) hosted the first ever ECBC/Project UNIFY Unified Basketball Tournament.  Ashley Chorus performed the National Anthem with Ashley NJROTC color guard presenting the colors.  Mr. Yucius acted as “MC” for the festivities. 
Teams from Hoggard, Laney, and New Hanover high schools ventured to the Ashley gymnasium to compete in the 14 team single-elimination tournament.  The Unified Teams were comprised of three Special Education Athletes and two Regular Education Partners. As the day progressed, the action really heated up between teams.  Referees- Ashley Basketball coaches Bryn McSwain and Adrienne Gale- sported the referee stripes to officiate the games and had their hands full with some of the intense competition between rival high schools. The championship game pitted Ashley’s Ky’Mel Myers, Brandon Valentine, Marquise McCutcheon, Joel Yoworski, and Christian Wolfe against Hoggard’s Laker-Ballers.  The competition was very tight, but Ashley managed to pull ahead as time was running out to secure the 1st Place Trophy with a 7-6 victory!!
Hoggard’s Team, the Laker-Ballers, earned the 2nd place trophy, with Ashley and New Hanover’s teams earning 3rd place.  Ashley’s 3rd place team consisted of Amanda Gooding, Olivia Collins, Mary Allison Hatem, Hayden Yoworski, and Megan Gueiss. Congratulations to all teams that participated!!  Way to go EAGLES!!!