The Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers traveled to Virginia to participate in the Fort Lee Holiday Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. The Wheelchair Cavaliers came home with a third place finish after going 5-1 on the weekend.
In game one, the Wheelchair Cavaliers took on Delaware. The Wheelchair Cavaliers overwhelmed Delaware from the the opening tip-off with tough defense opening up a lead of 29 to 2 at the half. The Wheelchair Cavaliers continued their strong play in the second half winning the game by a score of 49 to 17. All nine Cavaliers players got into the scoring column lead by Will Waller with 11 points, Steve Smutak and Brent Hilliard with 7 points each, Drew Lacko and Dan Lemmer with 6 points each, Shawn Kravchuck and Vince Momosor with 4 points each, and Erik Whetstone and Troy Lawrence with 2 points each.
In game two, the Wheelchair Cavaliers once again used their swarming defense to score often and early and take a commanding lead over the All Hearts Tornadoes. The Cavaliers won the game by a score of 84 to 32. Once again all nine Cavaliers players got int to the scoring lead by Will Waller with 33 points, Dan Lemmer with 12 points, Brent Hilliard with 11 points, Steve Smutak with 8 points, Shawn Kravchuck and Drew Lacko with 6 points each, Troy Lawrence with 4 points and Erik Whetstone and Vince Momosor with 2 points each.
In game three, the Wheelchair Cavaliers beat 22nd ranked Richmond Rimriders by a score of 48 to 30. The Cavaliers were lead in scoring by Will Waller with 20 points, Steve Smutak with 15 points, Dan Lemmer with 5 points, Vince Momosor with 4 points and Drew Lacko and Brent Hilliard with 2 points each.
In game four, the Wheelchair Cavaliers defeated the Magee Sixers by a score of 49 to 27. With the win, the Cavaliers wrapped up pool play with a record of 4 and 0 and secured a spot in the semifinals on Sunday. Leading the way for the Cavaliers were Will Waller with 19 points, Steve Smutak with 12 points, Drew Lacko with 8 points, Brent Hilliard with 6 points, and Erik Whetstone with 4 points.
In the semifinal game, the Wheelchair Cavaliers played the Virginia Beach Sunwheelers in a very tightly contested game. The lead changed hands several times, and the Cavaliers fought until the final buzzer but came up short losing 37 to 34. The Cavaliers were lead by Will Waller with 18 points, Drew Lacko with 6 points, Steve Smutak and Brent Hilliard with 4 points each, and Dan Lemmer with 2 points.
In the final game of the tournament, the Wheelchair Cavaliers defeated the Magee Sixers by a score of 43 to 38 in a rematch to bring home a third place finish. The Cavaliers were lead in scoring by Will Waller with 21 points, Steve Smutak and Erik Whetstone with 8 points each, and Brent Hilleard with 6 points.
The 8th ranked Wheelchair Cavaliers are 9-1, and play again on December 15th at Cleveland State University's Recreation Center vs. Detroit at 12:00 p.m.
Remember to like the Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers facebook page to follow the team through out the season.