The Barrier Breakers Claim Victory in the 11th Annual Westchester Wheelchair Basketball Tournament
The Westchester County Center, home to the NBA’s G-League Westchester Knicks, the WNBA’s New York Liberty, venue for the annual high school Slam Dunk and Section 1 Semifinal Basketball Tournaments and a regular stop on the Harlem Globetrotters' world tour, welcomed athletes and fans of the 11th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. On Tuesday evening, April 17th, the hardwood floor of the Westchester County Center hosted a special basketball game pitting a group of dedicated and intense athletes in a spirited game of basketball.
Above: Members of the Barrier Breakers with assistance from the NYC Rolling Fury advancing down the court.
Below: Westchester School for Special Children jamming it home for the score
The event, sponsored by Cerebral Palsy of Westchester (CPW), fielded a team of athletes from CPW’s own Barrier Breakers basketball team and which included players from the New York City-based Rolling Fury basketball team against the Westchester Wildcats, the basketball team of the Westchester School for Special Children (WSSC). On-hand to welcome the athletes were several players from the NCAA Division I and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion Iona College Gales men’s basketball team.
Above: Members of the Iona College Basketball Team (left) and Scarsdale Middle School Cheerleaders (right)
Below: Westchester County Director of the Office for People with Disabilities, Evan Latainer (left), Lenny Spano, Executive Director of WSSC (right)
Athletes, guests and fans were welcomed by Stephanie Russo-Pastilha, Associate Executive Director of CPW and by Westchester County’s Director of the Office for People with Disabilities, Evan Latainer. Cheering the athletes on and entertaining the crowd in attendance was the cheerleading squad from Scarsdale Middle School. Half-time entertainment was provided by singers from CPW performing as the group Vocal Groove (below).
Since 1949, Cerebral Palsy of Westchester has been the leading non-profit organization in Westchester and Fairfield County, providing essential educational services, direct services, vocational training, recreation, rehabilitation and advocacy to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The Barrier Breakers wheelchair basketball team welcomes anyone with disabilities, between the ages of 10 and 21, who reside in Westchester County. For those over the age of 21 the Barrier Breakers does include an adult team. The New York Rolling Fury serves residents with disabilities from New York City and Long Island who are between the ages of 5 and 21.
This year’s final score showed the Barrier Breakers prevailing over the Wildcats 40-32, redemption to last year’s win by the Wildcats.
Upcoming events to support Cerebral Palsy of Westchester include the 17th Annual Golf Classic on June 17th at Scarsdale’s Quaker Ridge Golf club and the July 18th Celebration of Life Julius Horsford Gardening Contest at CPW’s Rye Brook campus. For more information about these and other events or, to learn about other ways of supporting CPW, please contact Bridgette Pennelle at (914) 937-3800 X353.
