LWSRA’s Miles Hill’s Basket Sends Hawks Into NWBA Adult Division II Tournament Title Game
It was a Hill of a moment.
With time running out and the No. 6-seeded LWSRA Synergy Hawks needing a basket to win the game, Miles Hill got a pick, a pass and and made the game-winning buzzer-beating layup to lift LWSRA to one wild 57-56 come-from-behind victory over the No. 1 seed Tampa Bay Strong Dogs and into the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Adult Division II Tournament championship game at Henrico Sports & Events Center in Glen Allen, Va.
Trailing by one point with less than 10 seconds left and with the Hawks with the ball past half court, they got the ball to Matthew Talbot at the top right corner of the 3-point line. With a couple players hemmed and picked in there, he passed the ball to Hill, near the right side of the free-throw line. And the lane opened right up.
Hill wheeled downcourt, put up a layup with 2 seconds left, and it banked home as time expired.
“I wasn’t thinking about the time. Shoutout to the fans counting down the ‘Three, two, one,’ because I was going to take my last second as I could. I was holding it as long as I could, and the only thing I’m thinking is finish high. Because man, if I smoke that, I’d never live that one down. I ain’t gonna lie, I’d be crying tonight,” Hill says.
LWSRA will meet the No. 3-seed Cincinnati Dragons in Sunday’s NWBA Adult Division II championship game. Cincinnati defeated the No. 2-seeded Arkansas Rollin’ Razorbacks, 64-52, in Saturday’s second semifinal.
A 24-year-old, Hill was born with spondyloptosis, or a slippage of the L5 vertebra in which the entire L5 vertebrae body is located below the top of the S1. He has played wheelchair basketball for the last 12 years, including for the University of Illinois men’s wheelchair basketball team from 2018-2023. LWSRA’s Thomas Duffy played there, too. Duffy, who developed transverse myelitis at age 9 has played wheelchair basketball ever since. He also played at the University of Illinois from 2017-2023. And the two teamed up yet again.
“[It was] by design to just get some spacing in the corners, hope for a couple picks and then see if anyone can pop open last-second,” Duffy says.
That capped a crazy rally for the Hawks.
Leading 55-47 with 58.8 seconds to go, it looked like Tampa Bay nearly had this one sealed up. But missed free throws, lane violations and missed defensive stops did the Strong Dogs in. And Hill also credited the Hawks’ Kaitlyn Eaton, a two-time Team USA Paralympic women’s wheelchair basketball team medalist, for making two key picks to open up teammates down the stretch.
After two free throws by Tampa Bay’s Robert Gordon gave the Strong Dogs that eight-point lead, Duffy banked in a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 55-50 with 51.2 seconds to go. Gordon made 1-of-2 free throws with 50.1 seconds left to push the lead up to six points, but then Talbot hit a 3-pointer from the right side of the key to cut the lead to 56-53 with 42 seconds remaining.
With 40.5 seconds left, Gordon was fouled and missed his first free throw attempt, and the second was taken away by a lane violation. LWSRA then made a basket to trim the deficit to 56-55 with 33.4 seconds remaining. Gordon missed a free throw attempt with 15.1 seconds to go, and Tampa Bay was called for another lane violation — setting up for the last play.
As for Cincinnati, the Dragons led by just five points in the third quarter before they opened up a 62-48 advantage with 4 minutes left in the fourth and won the game by double-digits.
But Cincinnati coach Mike Haake says the goal was to push the pace — and it worked.
“We like to be an up-tempo team and felt like we maybe wore them out a little bit in the fourth quarter. But hats off to those guys. It’s a tough, tough group — a lot of size, a lot of experience, a lot of veterans on that side,” Haake says. “So, we’re fortunate to get the win and try to play hard and push that pace to get a little run in the fourth quarter.”
Haake hopes they play that same fast-paced way on Sunday.
‘We’re a team that’s got some guys that can get out in transition,” he says. “So yeah, we always love to push the pace, get some outside shots, get some transition buckets.”
Upset-Minded Outlaws, No. 2-Seeded Stealers To Meet In Adult Division III Title Game
Meanwhile, in their first NWBA Adult Division championship, the Texas Outlaws are providing some drama.
On Saturday, they continued their upset-filled path to the NWBA Adult Division III tournament. And they now have reached the title game.
Defense and some late-game free-throw shooting provided the final fourth-quarter lift to give the Outlaws a 46-42 victory over the No. 4-seeded Brooks Ballers. Texas will take on the No. 2-seeded Shepherd Stealers, who forced 27 turnovers and showed they have some relentless defense of their own in a 50-37 victory Saturday afternoon semifinal win over the No. 11-seeded San Antonio ParaSport Spurs.
Last year, the Outlaws couldn’t qualify for the Division III national tournament because it was their first year in the division. But this season, they’re making the most of their time here.
Mark Ramirez totaled game-highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Owen Horsley scored 10 points and Florin Nita had eight, as the Outlaws hung on.
After taking some time off from wheelchair basketball, the 30-year-old Ramirez, who was born with muscular dystrophy, just returned to wheelchair basketball two years ago. Texas coach Tyler Malone convinced him to return to the sport, and he started getting in shape again. And it was Nita and Ramirez who provided the lift and insurance points late.
With Texas leading 41-38 with 3 minutes and 37 seconds to go, Brooks cut the lead to just one point after a Matthew Sechrist basket with 2:39 remaining.
Nita was fouled and hit 1-of-2 free throws with 2:09 to go, and Ramirez swished an inside hoop with 1:11 remaining to give the Outlaws a 44-40 lead. After an Ashton Knowles basket with 26 seconds left trimmed the deficit to two points, Ramirez was fouled and went to the foul line. His first foul shot hit the rim and bounced off, but his second swished through to give Texas a 45-42 advantage.
Brooks’ Kai Ryan missed a 3-pointer with 13 seconds to go, and Ramirez sank the second of two free throws to give the Outlaws a 46-42 lead with 11 seconds left. Knowles missed a 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining.
“In my head, I always think trust my work in the gym, so I usually go to my routine, blank everything out, and I follow the flow. So, I tell everybody, ‘Don’t let the nerves get the better of you. You just go out there and push as hard as you can,’” Ramirez says.
Texas’ Jeraldo Henry Jr., thought the team played well defensively. Just like in Friday night’s quarterfinal, the Outlaws’ second-half defense was key.
“We just kept the bigs out. We stayed on the shooters,” says the 18-year-old who was born with spina bifida. “We stayed on the shooters a lot. So, they didn’t get a lot of opportunities to do what they do. So, hopefully we can do that tomorrow, as well.”
Ryan led Brooks with 12 points and also had six rebounds, while Knowles had nine points and 12 rebounds. But the two players combined to go just 10-of-29 from the field.
Meanwhile, Shepherd took care of business, as the Stealers dominated the second half — with their defense and getting the ball inside to Khalil Harriott.
Leading just 24-23 at halftime, Shepherd opened up the third quarter on an 11-2 run. Harriott scored four points during the run, while Cherronte Watts had three, Corey Butler and David Snowden had two apiece to push the Stealers’ lead to 37-25 with 5:37 left in the quarter. San Antonio also committed two inbounds violation turnovers during that stretch.
Harriott finished with team-high of 16 points, including 10 in the second half, and 12 rebounds. He finished 8-of-14 from the field, going 5-of-6 from the field in the second half. He didn’t miss a shot in the final two quarters until his last attempt with 32 seconds left.
Watts added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Marvin Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds, Snowden had eight points and Butler had two points and two rebounds for Shepherd.
For San Antonio, Christopher Pettway led with nine points and eight rebounds off the bench. JP Lane had seven points and three rebounds. Nakia Merritte had eight points and three rebounds. Anesi Tuufuli had six points and three rebounds. Shawn Simmions added five points and eight rebounds.
Harriott is a right below-the-knee amputee and was injured in a car accident in 2018 in Atlanta. He’s played with Shepherd the past three seasons, and this will be his first championship game.
“I think it was mostly the intensity. You know, just getting out there and playing our game. You know, just sticking to what we know, being the best players we can be, you know? And just being confident, you know, knowing that we got each other’s back, talking more on defense, you know, and just being able to hold each other accountable,” Harriott says. “You know, everybody wants to win this thing. And we think we got the chance to do it.”
Top Two Seeds To Meet In NWBA Division I Final
The top-seeded Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks took control in the third quarter and wheeled their way to a chance at repeating as the NWBA’s Adult Division I champion.
Dallas rolled to a 72-62 victory over the No. 5-seed Mary Free Bed Pacers in Saturday afternoon’s first Adult Division I semifinal. Leading 49-40 early in the third quarter, the Wheelchair Mavericks went on a big run and pushed their lead to 58-42 with 7:08 left in fourth quarter.
Dallas will meet the No. 2-seeded WASA Marquette Eagles, who held off the Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets in an 82-70 victory in Saturday’s second Adult Division I semifinal.
Dallas has two Paralympians on its team — 2016 U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball gold medalist Aaron Gouge and 2024 U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball Paralympic gold medalist Fabian Romo.
Meanwhile, WASA has seven Paralympians — 2024 U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball Paralympic silver medalist Emily Oberst, four-time U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball Paralympian and two-time gold medalist Becca Murray, three-time U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball Paralympic gold medalist Jake Williams, three-time U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball Paralympian and bronze medalist Jeremy Lade, 2024 U.S men’s wheelchair basketball Paralympic gold medalist Jeromie Meyer, two-time Paralympian and U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball Paralympic gold medalist Matt Lesperance and 2024 U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball Paralympic gold medalist Talen Jourdan.
Oberst says she’s excited for the final and ready to take on the Wheelchair Mavericks. She says the team struggled with their first-half shooting and need to do a better job of that on Sunday.
“I think we have what it takes to win. I think all of the pieces are coming together, peaking at the right time. So it’s very, very exciting. Tomorrow will be great,” Oberst says. “Dallas has some speed and some height. So honestly, I think we played really well in this last game. If we just transfer it, I think we’ll be just fine.”
National Wheelchair Basketball Association Adult Tournament Day 2 April 12
At Henrico Sports & Events Center in Glen Allen, Va.
Division I
Semifinals
No. 1 Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks 72, No. 5 Mary Free Bed Pacers 62
No. 2 WASA Marquette Eagles 82, No. 3 Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets 70
Consolation
No. 9 New York Rolling Knicks 69, No. 13 Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch Generals 62
No. 6 MedStar NRH Punishers, No. 7 Rancho Halos
No. 4 Golden State Road Warriors 63, No. 8 Los Angeles Clippers Chairmen 50
No. 11 New Mexico 66ers 39, No. 14 Utah Wheelin’ Jazz 35
No. 15 Tucson Lobos 59, No. 10 Courage Kenny Rolling Timberwolves 54 (OT)
No. 12 Memorial Rehabilitation Sharks 64, No. 16 Los Angeles Hotwheels 60
No. 14 Utah Wheelin’ Jazz 56, No. 15 Tucson Lobos 40
No. 11 New Mexico 66ers 57, No. 10 Courage Kenny Rolling Timberwolves 56
No. 9 New York Rollin’ Knicks 69, No. 13 Wounded Warriors Abilities Generals 62
No. 6 MedStar NRH Punishers 62, No. 7 Rancho Halos 42
Division II
Semifinals
No. 6 LWSRA Synergy Hawks 57, No. 1 Tampa Bay Strong Dogs 56
No. 3 Cincinnati Dragons 64, No. 2 Arkansas Rollin’ Razorbacks 52
Consolation
No. 9 Charlotte Rolllin’ Hornets Purple 62, No. 13 ParaSport Spokane 60
No. 11 Lakeshore Storm, No. 14 Magee Spokesmen (Score Not Reported)
No. 7 TIRR Memorial Rehabilitation Sharks 62, No. 15 Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets Teal 44
No. 14 Magee Spokesmen 41, No. 7 Memorial Rehabilitation Sharks 37
No. 16 Minnesota Rolling Timberwolves 47, No. 12 Ability360 Wheelchair Suns 45
No. 11 Lakeshore Storm 55, No. 15 Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets Teal 34
No. 5 Kansas City Kings 54, No. 8 CAST Iron Skillets 39
No. 10 Bridge City Rolling Blazers 45, No. 6 Shepherd Stealers 32
Division III
Semifinals
No. 9 Texas Outlaws 46, No. 4 Brooks Ballers 42
No. 2 Shepherd Stealers 50, No. 11 San Antonio ParaSport Spurs 37
Consolation
No. 13 CSULB Flying Wheels 56, No. 8 Cap City Cardinals 48
No. 6 Virginia Sun Wheelers 50, No. 3 Coastal Chairmen 32
No. 15 LWSRA Hawks 70, No. 7 Brooklyn Nets 60
No. 15 LWSRA Hawks 59, No. 6 Virginia Sun Wheelers 42
No. 12 Tacoma Titans 47. No. 16 Rochester Wheels 45
No. 7 Brooklyn Nets 71, No. 3 Coastal Chairmen 32
No. 1 Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers 46, No. 5 Detroit Wheelchair Pistons 31
No. 14 London Forest City Flyers 47, No. 14 Rancho Halos 37
15th-Place Game
No. 3 Coastal Chairmen, No. 16 Rochester Wheels (Score Not Reported)
13th-Place Game
No. 7 Brooklyn Nets, No. 12 Tacoma Titans (Score Not Reported)