Inside The Story: Wheelchair Basketball Champs

Описание: (KUTV) Look into the faces of the young men and young women who play on a nationally-ranked wheelchair basketball team and what do you see? Not self-pity for their circumstances, but hope and determination. According to these kids, it has to do with what they've learned and experienced on the court.

They kids who range in age from 12 to 18-years-old and use wheels to get around, are a nationally ranked team in the Junior Wheelchair Basketball League. They call themselves the Utah Rush. Last year they took second place in the country and now they are practicing several days a week, hoping to once again make it into the national championship game.

"It can get rough. It's high energy. It's intense," said Adam Lindsay who coaches the team. "Banging with the chairs, a lot of talking out on the floor."

The rules of this game are the same as collegiate basketball. There is a 35-second shot clock. There is three second lane violation, charging, and there is even traveling. A player can't just hold the ball and roll with it. One dribble must take place for every two pushes with the wheelchair.

This is not just about learning the rules or skills of basketball. It's about learning the skills of life.

"We teach them not only basketball, but also how to be productive in society and move forward," said Lindsay.

Each one of the kids has a different reason why they are confined to a wheelchair. Most of them deal with limb deformities or bone diseases that they were born with.

Marlee Wagstaff, 15, could run and walk normally until five years ago when her life forever changed. On Sept. 10, 2010, she fell 25 feet out of tree and broke her back, paralyzing her from the waist down.

"I thought I would never play sports again," said Wagstaff. It was one of the most difficult times of her life to know that she would never walk again.

"How can you go from walking to doing this? How do people do this?"

Then a couple years after the accident, she discovered wheelchair basketball. "When I found this, I was like, ‘Oh man this is amazing. I can't believe they have this.’ There are so many opportunities for people in wheelchairs I didn't even know about," said Wagstaff, who is now all smiles.

Like all the other players on the team, Wagstaff has big dreams.

"My goal is to get on the Paralympics Women's team and go to college and get a scholarship."

According to the coach, many of the kids will get a scholarship. Last year, he says they had three players leave with college scholarships.

"I love it because when we get here we are so nice and we are family and I just really like that," said player Riley Porter.

The National Junior Wheelchair Championship Tournament is scheduled to take place in Louisville, Kentucky on April 16 to 18, with 32 teams competing for the trophy.

But the team is playing in an exhibition game Tuesday at 7p.m. at Woods Cross High School in Davis County. They are playing the football and basketball players to raise money for their trip