igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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 Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:45 am Post subject: Autistic Teen Scores 20 in Basketball Game |
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Autistic Teen Scores 20 in Basketball Game 
By BEN DOBBIN, Associated Press Writer
Fri Feb 24, 2:46 AM ET
GREECE, N.Y. - Jason McElwain had done everything he was asked to do for the Greece Athena High School basketball team —
keep the stats, run the clock, hand out water bottles.
That all changed last week for the team manager in the final home game of the season. The 17-year-old senior, who is
autistic and usually sits on the bench in a white shirt and black tie, put on a uniform and entered the game with his team way ahead.
McElwain proceeded to hit six 3-point shots, finished with 20 points and was carried off the court on his teammates' shoulders.
"I ended my career on the right note," he told The Associated Press by phone Thursday.
"I was really hotter than a pistol!" 
In recent days, McElwain's phone has hardly stopped ringing. When his family went out for a meal, he was mobbed by well-wishers.
A neighborhood boy came by to get a basketball autographed.
McElwain, 5-foot-6, was considered too small to make the junior varsity, so he signed on as team manager. He took up the same role with the varsity,
doing anything to stay near the sport he loves. Coach Jim Johnson was impressed with his dedication, and thought about suiting up McElwain for the home finale.
His performance was jaw-dropping: 20 points in four minutes, making 6-of-10 3-point shots. The crowd went wild.
"It was as touching as any moment I have ever had in sports," Johnson told the Daily Messenger of Canandaigua.
McElwain didn't begin speaking until he was 5. He lacked social skills but things got easier as he got older. He found many friends and
made his way through school in this Rochester suburb, although many of his classes were limited to a half-dozen students. And he found basketball.
On the varsity, he never misses practice and is a jack-of-all-trades.
"And he is happy to do it," Johnson said. "He is such a great help and is well-liked by everyone on the team."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060224/ap_on_sp_ot/bkh_what_a_night;_ylt=Ahko8PKQqFKQYuMDNBdEN1UDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
Last edited by igotthisguitar on Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:53 am; edited 1 time in total |
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