Common Ground Outdoor Adventures hosts wheelchair basketball game

The bustling gymnasium of Green Canyon High School was full of excitement on Friday, April 12, as the Logan community gathered for the semi-annual wheelchair basketball event organized by Common Ground Outdoor Adventures. This event marked the organization’s 31st year of operation. Their mission is to enhance the lives of youths and adults with disabilities through quality outdoor recreation. 

SaQuoyah Boxx, the program director of Common Ground, was instrumental in making the event a success. 

“Our goal is to create inclusive recreational experiences,” Boxx said. “Events like these allow individuals to engage in sports and activities they might not have access to otherwise.” 

For the event, they had volunteers running concessions and the scoreboard as well as refereeing the game.  

“We have about ten volunteers here tonight, including Cameron, who is one of the refs. He has been a fantastic addition to our team,” Boxx said. 

Cameron Park, an aviation student at Utah State, joined Common Ground in August and has quickly become an integral part of the organization. As a volunteer, Park has been involved in various activities, including rock climbing, hiking and snowshoeing.  

“It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of an organization that challenges stereotypes and provides opportunities for everyone to participate in outdoor activities,” Park said. 

The wheelchair basketball event featured the Logan Fire Department and the Wheeling Wildcats, a semi-professional team from Ogden.  

Within the first 30 seconds of the game, the Wildcats were up with 20 points. Six of those points were made from players’ shots, while the rest were donations from fans in the crowd.  

One unique aspect of the event was the “bribing the ref” process where spectators could donate money to give their favorite team additional points—a fun twist adding to the excitement. Every dollar donated equated one point towards the desired team. 

Four minutes into the game, the Logan Fire Department made their first layup, but the Wildcats were quick to soar down the court to make a three pointer.  

All’s fair in wheelchair basketball, especially with the ability to bribe the refs. By halftime, the Wildcats were up 38 points, 141-104.  

During the ten minute break at half time, spectators were welcomed onto the court to perform wheelchair races.  

While there were no official sponsors for this event, donations were collected to cover expenses, such as food and venue rental. Additionally, three raffle prizes, ranging from $125 to $200 in value, were awarded to lucky attendees. 

With four minutes left on the clock, the score was all tied up at 175-175, but in the end, the Wildcats conquered the Logan Fire Department, 253-191.   

As the evening drew to a close, the Wildcats celebrated their victory with a plastic trophy and, more importantly, bragging rights for the next six months.  

Both Boxx and Park expressed gratitude for the community’s support and looked forward to future endeavors with Common Ground Outdoor Adventures. 

For more information about Common Ground Outdoor Adventures and upcoming events, contact Common Ground at info@cgadventures.org.