ELDRIDGE, Iowa — Skills, sportsmanship and self-confidence — that's the name of the game at this Special Olympics Iowa basketball competition.
Athletes from the Iowa Quad Cities came to North Scott Junior High to show off their dribbling and shooting, or went head-to-head in three-on-three matches.
Regina Rangel's sons Loudon and Dayton Nichols are both autistic. They competed in the basketball skills trials.
"Dayton has come a long way in learning basketball," Rangel said. "He's gotten really good with his hands, and he was just making shot after shot, and you could just see him glow when he makes those shots. So he was just proud of himself."
Rangel said the program does more for her boys than just teach sports.
"The Special Olympics gives them the chance to be around other people who are like them, to see that they can do these kinds of activities," Rangel said.
The competition really ramped up when teams get involved. Joey Bevans and Harley Red play for the Clinton Rolling Thunder on separate teams.
"It's very awesome to have a challenge, like competitors and stuff in every sport you have," Bevans said. "You get to do a lot of new sports, and meet new people and learn from them."
Bevans and Red both emphasized the importance of treating fellow players with kindness.
"Whether you win or lose, be a good team sport, and have fun out there," Red said.
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