Utah Wheelin' Jazz: Wheelin' Jazz Advance to Region Championship with big win over LA Lakers

Please visit www.wheelinjazz.com

News and notes of Utah's Elite Wheelchair Basketball Team. Currently Ranked #4 in National Wheelchair Basketball Association. For more information about the Wheelin' Jazz, call Layne Mangum at 801.400.2882.

We have launched a new webpage (wheelinjazz.com) that gives you the opportunity to better follow and support the team. The new page has a donation link and also a shopping cart for you to purchase coupons that give you great value. The team gets 40% of the purchase price of the coupons. Thank you for visiting and supporting the team.

Neuroworx and the Hull Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide therapy and rehabilitative services for individuals dealing with paralysis sescondary to spinal cord injuries and similar neurological conditions. Supporting adaptive sports is a natural extension of our mission to improve the rehabilitation, overall health and quality of life for individuals with these devastating injuries.

Dale Hull and Jan Black are the co-founders of Neuroworx. The Wheelin' Jazz are grateful for their efforts./

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Wheelin' Jazz Advance to Region Championship with big win over LA Lakers

The Neuroworx Wheelin' Jazz dusted off the wheels, withstood an early flurry, and pulled away to beat the #9 LA Lakers 69-43 in the West Region Semi-Final in San Jose, CA. The score does not indicate how close the game was.

The Lakers started the game on a flurry and quickly led 12-6. A pair of Jeff Griffin 3 pointers pulled the Wheelin' Jazz to within 2 at 14-12 and started a 24-10 run that put the Wheelin' Jazz up at the half, 30-22.

The second half was played very even as the Wheelin' Jazz maintained an 8 to 12 point lead. With 6:50 remaining in the game and the score 49-38, the Wheelin' Jazz finished the game on a 20-5 run to seal the win.

Jeff Griffin scored 15 of his game high 19 in the first half, followed by Rod Niemann with 14. Bret Remington scored 12, Layne Mangum 8, Mike Schlappi 7, Jason Hokanson 6, and Big D, Darrell Mauerman scored 1. Laker star (and 1st season 'Big Brother' winner) Eddie McGee scored 16 followed by William Arriaga and Michael Garafola with 13 and 8 points.

Other games today, the Rancho Renegades beat the LA Clippers to advance to the Semi-Final against Golden State in a game later in the day. Golden State beat Rancho to advance to the Championship.

The win puts the Wheelin' Jazz into the West Region Championship against #4 Golden State Road Warriors. The Wheelin' Jazz are the defending West Region Champion and are looking for a return trip to the Final Four.