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Shooting 'STAR' Wows Crowd In The Dark

BASKETBALL EVENT DRAWS LOCAL SPECIAL ATHLETES

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Special STARS athlete Angie Luft, of Sebring, takes aim to shoot a free throw while volunteer Mary Manning prepares to mark down her score.

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Special to Highlands Today

Published: June 19, 2008

AVON PARK — "Tap, tap, tap" went the stick on the edge of the basketball rim as Special STARS athlete Bobby Talley took aim for the hoop.

After a couple practice shots, Talley sunk the ball into the basket, making eight out of 10 shots in the free-throw contest, a number that may not be considered a great feat for the average basketball player.

But Talley is not your average basketball player: He's blind.

Volunteers, athletes and family members watched in awe as Talley carefully aimed toward the sound of the tapping.

"My son was truly impressed with Bobby," said volunteer Michelle Hostetler of Sebring, whose son, Jobe, was the person who helped Talley by tapping the rim.

Another volunteer would tell him if he was too far to the left or right and Talley would line his body up accordingly. Everyone in the gymnasium at the Avon Park Recreation Center cheered enthusiastically when he finally swished it through the net.

Talley, of Avon Park, joined approximately 30 other special athletes in competing in a beginners and advanced players competition for Special STARS.

Talley's determination and sense of humor inspired all the athletes. Whenever he would hear an athlete complain about missing a shot, he would say, "If you think that is tough, try it blindfolded."

Special STARS provided two weeks of training for people with disabilities to compete in basketball. There was a beginners level and an advanced level. Each level is tested on various skills such as target passing, free throws and a half-court dribble. All players got to play a scrimmage game after testing to put their skills to the test.

Talley was in level one of the beginners.
He tied with Cody Crouse, of Avon Park, to take home the fourth-place ribbon. Taking the first-place medal in that division was Megan Eisnaugle, of Sebring, while second place was given to Annie Horn of Sebring, and third was presented to Minnie Sue Reid of Avon Park.

Free-throw trophies were presented to the best advance and beginner players in each division. Leslie Hollandy of Sebring won the beginners trophy, shooting four out of 10 shots, while Shawn Squires of Sebring won the advanced level by sinking nine out of 10.

Medals were presented to first, second and third place, while ribbons were given to other places. Hollandy took home the first-place medal in level two beginners. Kenny Stoll of Sebring won second and Donna Headdy of Wauchula took third.

In level three of beginners, Carlita Hawkins of Avon Park won first, Deb Weisgerber of Lake Placid took second and Chad Creech of Sebring nabbed third.

Squires won the first place medal in the level one advance division. Greg Robinson of Avon Park won second; Robert Collier of Avon Park won third, Betty Burnett of Lake Placid won fourth and Gerald Bass of Sebring took fifth.

Owen Barnhill of Sebring took home the first-place medal in level two advance. Darrell Hill of Sebring was second, Larry Rivers of Sebring was third and Alex Lopez of Sebring won fourth.

In the level three advance, Sharon Carpenter of Avon Park won first. Rickey Marino of Avon Park took home the second-place medal while Joe Singha of Sebring won third. Angie Luft and Emily Lavely, both of Sebring, tied for fourth, and John Smith of Sebring took fifth.

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