Special needs basketball program produces special results

by Charles Cassady

A new hive of young basketball players accompanies the Bees at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School. They are the young women and men of the Bees Hoopin’ Stars, a team of special needs students who perform at halftime during varsity games.

“The reason this is so cool is that kids in special needs programs get to interact and compete in a ‘typical’ program,” said Dr. Nancy Musarra, a clinical psychologist, author and parent in the BBH school system who was on the scene when the slam-dunk of an idea came up in 2012.

The notion of special needs students in customized basketball programs is not new. Lake County has a nonprofit called Special Sports Inc., started by parents in the Mentor School System. Bounce Out the Stigma in New Jersey has gained national attention. Musarra, a Broadview Heights resident, said the Bees Hoopin’ Stars began independently of those efforts with a proposal from her son, David Urse, and his friend, Paul Karthan of Brecksville, both of whom were Bees athletes.

Urse and Karthan, members of the Class of 2013, had younger siblings with disabilities who did not have sports programs of their own.

“Which they thought was extremely unfair,” said Musarra, whose daughter Giana was born with special needs. Giana, BBHHS class of 2016, is a coach for the Hoopin’ Stars and water girl for the varsity basketball team.

For students facing such challenges as autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, hearing loss or other ailments, specialty sports courses are not just a matter of physical fitness. Basketball exhibitions provide a sense of emotional belonging and fellowship.

Musarra said members of the Hoopin’ Stars form true friendships with other students who have gotten to know the people behind the label, “whether they are blind, have a speech impediment or walk with an awkward gait. [It is] a natural path toward inclusion, and these kids really like each other. It just allows other people to appreciate the natural gifts they have.”

The program is a family affair. After Urse graduated, his brother Bobby, Class of 2017, became involved in the program, ensuring it continued.

Last season was the first in three years in which the Hoopin’ Stars got to practice time at the BBHHS gym. From November to February, the Hoopin’ Stars run through drills and teamwork exercises once a week.

Previously, practice was held at the Seven Hills Recreation Center, as the group was not officially recognized as a school-sanctioned program.

Musarra credits not only Urse and Karthan for inspiring the program, but English/language arts teacher Deanna DiFranco and varsity basketball coach Steve Mehalik for helping the Hoopin’ Stars gain acceptance.

“Now we’re recognized as a group by the school,” she said.

Mehalik played for the Bees and graduated in 1991. He said that during his tenure as coach (since 2007), nobody raised the possibility of a special needs sports course until Urse and Karthan.

“It seemed like a great fit,” said Mehalik. “Never did we think it would grow to this, and that all of our future classes of Bees basketball players would embrace it and love to do it as much as they do.”

Usually during halftime at basketball games, fans adjourn for restrooms and the snack bar. With the rise of the Hoopin’ Stars, spectators have remained seated to cheer on the kids, instead.

And during a February game, onlookers were rewarded. Bees Hoopin’ Stars player Ethan VonDuhn made a half-court shot to roars of delight from the crowd.

Musarra said she hopes the Hoopin’ Stars will become a pilot program for other systems.

“This is exactly what every school should be doing,” she said.

Mehalik said the program is now involved with Cleveland nonprofit Empower Sports.

“[They host] practices at the Independence Rec Center,” he said. “They are a special group of people who do something similar for special needs kids from all over. A lot of our Hoopin’ Stars are involved with Empower as well.

“Really, it is the best thing we do as a basketball program. We have had a lot of success on the court, but this goes so far beyond that. I am more proud of how our players have grown so close to the Hoopin’ Stars and truly love doing it. Our goal is to just keep it going and help put smiles on as many of their faces and our faces as possible.”

Featured image photo caption: The Bees Hoopin’ Stars practice with the boys varsity basketball team. Photo courtesy N. Musarra