PROUD of our PRIDE: A Season of Memories
The 18-19 season has been one of rebuilding and developing the BIIS PRIDE (Perseverance, Resilience, Integrity, Determination, Empowerment). Returning players included Jillian, Aubrey (and her brother Carson), and Carsyn (and her siblings-Isiah, Bailee and Riley). During the season Coaches Akeem and Mike spent a lot of time at Spina Bifida Clinics at both Duke and UNC recruiting siblings Jadin and Olivia, Ash——lyn, Jonas, Gracie, Tim (and his sister Shea) and Matthew.
The PRIDE became members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) but didn’t compete against other teams. However, we practiced every Friday night in the Laurel Hills Park Gymnasium, a great community resource in which there is no cost to BIIS. We had a number of coaches who helped out during this season including Josh, Deja, Ryan and Leslie.
We had some incredibly memorable events:
- playing at halftime of the NC State-Maine Men’s basketball game at PNC Arena
- attending a UNC Women’s Basketball practice and playing at halftime of the UNC-Notre Dame game
- participating with a group of other ballers at the Women’s Sweet 16 game in Greensboro between NC State and Iowa
- One of the major highlights of the season was participating in the Junior NBA Day in Charlotte at the NBA All-Star game. Besides meeting some amazing NBA and WNBA stars each team member received a t-shirt, shorts and shoes!
We want to thank not only our athletes and coaches but the parents, grandparents, siblings and guardians, who really made the PRIDE possible! We are very much looking forward to next season!
-Coaches Mike and Akeem
