Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves Win Championship, 51-50

The Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves from the Courage Center of Golden Valley, MN are national champions for varsity wheelchair basketball for the second year in a row. 

Last weekend in Lakewood, Colorado the Wolves went head to head with the best varsity teams in the nation in one of the biggest tournaments of its kind.  The championship game included the same two teams from last year's tourney:  Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves vs. the San Diego Hammer.

Both teams have seniors that were playing in their final varsity game.  This game was particularly emotional for the three graduating seniors of the Wolves who were playing their last game together.

Seniors Connor Downes (left), Chuck Aoki (middle), and Ben Kenyon (right) discuss strategy during timeout vs. San Diego Hammer

This year's championship game came to a thrilling conclusion.  Down 50-49 and with just 14 seconds to go in the game, San Diego had possession of the ball.  As they inbounded the ball, Wolves senior Chuck Aoki pressured the Hammer into an over-and-back foul that turned the ball back over to the Wolves.

Never losing their composure, the Wolves inbounded the ball with 10 seconds remaining and knew they needed to get it to their high-scorer for the day, Connor Downes.

With just 4 seconds left on the clock, MVP Connor Downes (senior) caught a spectacular lob pass from last year's MVP, Ben Kenyon (senior).  Perfectly tossed over the outstretched arms of 2 San Diego defenders, Connor caught the pass down at the baseline and made the winning bucket.  Wolves won 51-50.

Pandemonium ensued after a last second missed shot from the Hammer.  The Wolves piled on top of one another at center court celebrating their victory...wheelchairs flying.

I asked Connor after the game how he felt before that game winning shot.  Spoken like the MVP he was he said, "I just knew I wanted the ball. And when I got the ball, I just wanted to make that shot."

Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves National Champs

TNT did a nice news piece on the story yesterday which can be found on the web.  At about 2:12 into the video you can see the winning shot.

It was completely fitting that these 3 seniors each played a key role in those final seconds.  Their friendship and camaraderie have been extraordinary examples of teamwork to the younger players.  They will remember this championship finale forever.

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One Kid's Story

My son, Guthrie, was a rookie on this year's national chamipionship team.  While his playing time was limited in the tournament finals he had the chance to play throughout the 30 games of the season.  Learning from some of the best coaches and players in the country, he feels optimistic about his basketball future.

At the tournament I had a chance to reflect about how he had come to this point.

Born with a syndrome known as arthrogryposis, Guthrie's biggest physical challenges are in his hips, legs and feet.  While he can walk short distances, he uses a wheelchair to get around most of the time.

I remember one night putting him to bed when he was just about 4 years old and we were saying prayers together.  Before I left the room he asked me, "Does God walk?"

I know parents are supposed to have all the answers, but this was a tough one.  At that young age he already knew that he would be using a wheelchair in his life.

I remember saying, "Yes, God walks.  And He pushes a wheelchair, too.  He's confined to a hospital bed, and He runs, too.   I guess God really does everything all kids do."

That satisfied him for the night.  He's always been a kid who takes a remarkably positive perspective in life.

Wheelchair Basketball

When Guthrie was 9, he was already involved with the Courage Center.  He had tried wheelchair racing and track and field.  At one of the races, the JV coach, George, approached him and told him about basketball.  Ever since, it's been his sole focus in sports.

Guthrie likes to remind me how naïve I was at the time.  I thought somehow wheelchair basketball must require smaller courts and shorter baskets.  I couldn't really see how someone could make a basket from a moving wheelchair.

Of course, he's proven me wrong.  The game is played on regulation sized courts and hoops.  All the same enthusiasm and intensity exists in wheelchair basketball as non-wheelchair basketball.  As you watch the game, you really forget the distinction.

With fewer available teams to play against it does involve a significant amount of travel.  This year we went to San Diego, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Colorado for various tournaments.  The practice and game time require a lot of commitment as some of the kids need to travel several hours to the practice and game locations.

Guthrie Lindquist at the National Championship Tournament in Lakewood, CO

A couple of years ago, we asked Guthrie, "If you could be born again with healthy legs would you like that?"

He scoffed at us and said,  "What, are you crazy?  I wouldn't be able to play wheelchair basketball!"

Courage Center

This is how Courage Center has impacted my son's life.  Through the sports program he has developed a strong sense of self and a championship attitude.  His story is only one of nine on this team, and only one of thousands that Courage Center has touched.

The kids, coaches, and parents from all the teams are champions in my book.

I am forever thankful to the Courage Center for the programs and support they offer.  Their program has had a huge impact in my son's life and is helping prepare him for the world.

If you know of anyone who is physically challenged, be sure to encourage them to contact Courage Center for the wide variety of programs they offer.

Minneapolis Realtor, John Schuster, of the John Schuster Group deserves some kudos for a real estate sale and purchase he negotiated last week in the Minneapolis area. In a market like the one we are experiencing today, it's good news when we experience success.

I had some customers who had found their dream home a few months ago. They had a home to sell in the Minneapolis area and wanted to upgrade to a home nearby. Reading the news of the real estate market recently they were a bit skeptical if the deal could be accomplished.

The buyers had met John Schuster as a result of his listing. They had noticed the house a year ago when it was significantly different in terms of price. At this new value this year, they wrote a purchase agreement with John Schuster and promptly listed their house in Minneapolis.

In a period of just 7 weeks, John had their home sold so they could lift their contingency and move to their new home. I was able to help the buyers with their financing and they locked in at the bottom of the market in terms of interest rate.

If we believe the press, we hear all day long how we can't sell our houses and we can't get a mortgage. "Nobody has mortgage money to lend", they like to write in the press. This blatantly inaccurate press might sell papers but it's far from the truth. Here's a great story about how Minneapolis residents can sell their homes and can get a mortgage-- sorry, press. It actually happens.

The buyers told me as an aside, "John worked a miracle for us".

Well, that kind of comment just shouldn't go unnoticed as far as I was concerned. I heard many good comments along the way about how attentive John was to his Minneapolis buyers. I witnessed their respect for him at their real estate closing.

In some small way, I'd just like to note success out there in the Minneapolis real estate market today. John Schuster is not the only one selling homes, and I'm not the only one lending morgage money. Real estate transactions are actually up over last year but you probably won't read that in the paper. So here it is--there's good news, too!

John Schuster's web page can be found at www.TwinCitiesListed.com

The Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves are coming off a national championship in wheelchair basketball from the 2007-2008 season, having finished with an impeccable 28-0 record. Going into this year will be a major test with one of their star forwards having graduated last year.

The annual Courage Classic was held this year on November 8th and 9th in Hastings, Minnesota, where the Timberwolves kicked off their 2008-2009 season. The tournament held true to its promise of pure sports tension with the invited guests (among others): The Milwaukee Wizards and the San Diego Hammer.

Milwaukee, San Diego, and Minnesota each finished in the top 4 of over 100 teams from around the nation last year. The Timberwolves took the national championship last spring in a match with San Diego.  Both Milwaukee and San Diego have Minnesota as a target to unseat for this season's national championship.

This year's Courage Classic kicked off on Saturday morning, November 8th. After cruising to two victories early Saturday, The Timberwolves faced one of last year’s top contenders, the Milwaukee Wizards, in the afternoon.

The game between these two teams was one of the best basketball games I’ve ever witnessed.

Having missed their first seven shots, the Timberwolves spotted the Wizards an early 8 points. That lead stuck throughout the game, never narrowing closer than to 4 points. Struggling to find their offense, the Timberwolves lost one of their stars from last year, Connor, to an injury early in the second half. Falling to the court head first, Connor took a nasty bruise to the forehead. Another star from last year, Ben, kept them in the game in Connor’s absence with some stellar play.

Falling to the court floor is one of the challenges of wheelchair basketball

With 5 minutes remaining, the team’s 28-0 record from last year seemed ready to fall in the team’s third game of the 2008-2009 season.

Connor’s return with just a few minutes remaining in the game seemed to inspire the Timberwolves. With a zone press defense, the Timberwolves stole two possessions from the Wizards and scored 4 unanswered points to tie the game with 30 seconds remaining.

Keeping up the pressure the Timberwolves worked the ball under the bucket with just 5 seconds remaining. Connor took a low pass under the bucket and made an unbalanced bucket to take the Timberwolves to their first lead of the game. It was all they needed, and the Timberwolves won their third game of the season...their 31st consecutive win.

In this series of photos, Robbie shows how a player gets themselves back up to play

Going into the championship rounds on Sunday, the Timberwolves cruised through the first game against Michigan with an easy win. But the championship game for the afternoon would be another story—they would face the San Diego Hammer.

After losing the national championship game last year to the Timberwolves, the San Diego Hammer walloped the same team the Wolves narrowly defeated on Saturday, the Wizards.

The Timberwolves squared up against a much improved San Diego Hammer club Sunday afternoon for the tournament championship. Unlike Saturday’s game, the Timberwolves came out strong against the much more aggressive Hammer. Scoring 8 unanswered points at the outset was the story of the game for the Wolves. While the Hammer tied the T’wolves with 5 minutes left in the game, the T’wolves came back with authority and won the contest by 8.

The Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves have won their first 5 games of the 2008-2009 season, stretching their winning streak to 33 games.

My son, Guthrie, demonstrates a "leaner"-- a shot designed to get over a larger opponent

Chuck makes a free-throw against the Wizards

Ben in traffic down by the post

Robbie makes a shot down low

The Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team invited the Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves wheelchair basketball team to play a half-time demo last Wednesday night against the Spurs. The Jr. Rolling Timberwolves are the varsity team from the Courage Center based in Golden Valley, Minnesota. This team is emerging from a phenomenal season last year, finishing 28-0 and winning the national championship.

Wheelchair basketball is played around the world, though still exists in relative obscurity when it comes to sports headlines. Events like this offer us the chance to demonstrate this exciting sport to the public. We are very grateful to the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball organization for the invitation. Our kids had the incredible opportunity to shoot hoops from the Target Center court in front of thousands of basketball fans.

Standing in the hallway ready to go on the court, we watched as the Spurs come down for half-time. An arms length away from Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the rest, our kids were in awe.

At the varsity level of play, our Jr. Rolling Timberwolves will be traveling throughout the country this winter. We have tournaments in Colorado, San Diego, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Our first tournament is going on this weekend in Hastings, MN, where the top 3 national teams from last year are in head-to-head competition. Milwaukee, Minnesota, and San Diego are all battling for this weekend’s tournament championship.

Courage Center is a Minneapolis-based rehabilitation and resource center that advances the lives of children and adults experiencing barriers to health and independence. At Courage Center, we specialize in treating brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, chronic pain, autism and disabilities experienced since birth. Founded in 1928, Courage Center is a nonprofit organization offering advanced technologies and innovation provided in part through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors. Courage center offers an incredible array of sporting activities.

My son, Guthrie, has had the benefit of playing in many of the sports offered by Courage Center. A few years ago, basketball became my son’s favorite. Having played on the Courage prep squad, the Rowdies, and the JV squad, the Lightning, Guthrie is a rookie this year on the varsity team. We are forever grateful to Courage Center for offering these opportunities.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in Courage Center sports, we are always looking for more participants! Visit www.courage.org for contact information.

Jr. Timberwolves waiting off court before half-time

Jr. Timberwolves shooting for 3 points at half-time of Minnesota Timberwolves game

Guthrie takes it up the court on the floor of the Target Center

Every Minnesota young basketball player's dream-- taking a shot from the floor of the Target Center