The Flyers, a Special Olympics basketball team from Louisville, is a program that has been going on for seven years.

The Flyers scrimmaged during halftime at the IUS men’s basketball game on Feb. 9.

“There are 12 players on the team this year,” Danny Lane, The Flyers head coach, said.

Scott Jaggers and Rick Garrett are the assistant coaches for The Flyers.

The Flyers have played one other time this year at the KFC Yum! Center.

Wiley Brown, IUS men’s basketball head coach, used to coach at the University of Louisville, and, while there, he organized halftime so The Flyers could play.

“Coach Brown is my neighbor, so, through him, I was able to have the team come play,” Lane said.

Brown helped coach The Flyers for two years. However, while coaching at IU Southeast, Brown  said he did not have time to coach The Flyers anymore.

“I love to see them perform,” Brown said. “They give it all they have and make everybody who is watching them play smile.”

During the scrimmage, The Flyers played four-on-four. They played against each other with red and black jerseys.

“Only eight of the 12 players were here tonight,” Lane said.

The Flyers, made do with the missing four players and still put on a scrimmage. Lane said the team enjoyed playing in a college gym, and the players said they thought it was a great experience for them.

Rylan Thomas is a first-time player in this league.

“I had a lot of fun,” Thomas said.

Thomas said his biggest accomplishment from the game was when he made a 3-point shot on the final buzzer.

“It felt good,” Thomas said.

Scotty Correll is another member on the team.

He has been with the league since it began seven years ago.

“Scotty is an original of the league,” Lane said.

Correll has been on the team longer than any other player, and he said he enjoys playing for The Flyers.

“It was awesome to play in a college gym,” Correll said.

Lane said he enjoys coaching the team and he said he believes The Flyers provide a chance for people who have intellectual disabilities to get involved.

By TIFFANY ADAMS

Staff

adamstif@ius.edu