SPORTS 'N SPOKES

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Home Sweet Home

Although the scoreboard distinguishes between home and guest, for basketball players throughout the country the Pioneer Classic feels like coming home.

"I've been playing wheelchair basketball almost 33 years and have played with or against most of the athletes here this weekend," says Mike Neville, Lakeshore Storm team member. "[Pioneer Classic] is an 'old home' week; it's just good to have everyone back."

For Director of Athletics Patty Cornelius, the annual tournament was the first event she experienced when she joined the Lakeshore Foundation staff in 2003. This was her fourth year as tournament director.

"It's a great opportunity to showcase Championship Division [wheelchair basketball]. We pride ourselves in providing one of the best tournaments of the season. Several teams, especially those in the Southern Conference, put Pioneer on their calendar every year," says Cornelius.

This year marked the 22nd annual tradition of the Pioneer Classic and brought just as much competition and down-to-the-minute excitement as years prior. The Arkansas Rollin' Razorbacks found a close match in the Orlando Magic but ultimately took home their third consecutive tournament championship. In the women's bracket, the University of Alabama reclaimed the title but not without finding solid competition in the other three teams.


Read more about the action and how the Pioneer Classic has grown over the years. A sidebar article features University of Alabama player (and coach) Stephanie Wheeler.

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