2008 Woodie Awards
Scott's steal earns gold for U.S. wheelchair basketball
Cherome Owens
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Sports
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UW-Whitewater is known all over the world after Matt Scott's defensive stop on Canada's Pat Anderson as time expired, which helped the U.S. Men's Wheelchair Basketball Team win the gold medal, 52-50, in the 2007 Para Pan American Games.
Scott was just one of several UW-Whitewater affiliations on the national team that competed in Brazil. The team included current Warhawk wheelchair basketball players Joe Chambers, Ian Lynch, and Jaime Mazzi, as well as former players Jeremy Lade and Jake Counts. Current UW-Whitewater Head Coach Tracy Chynoweth served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team, UW-Whitewater alumnus Steve Wilson served as head coach and fellow alumnus Mike Bauler was the team leader.
However, it was Scott's big play down the stretch that is the reason why the team held on to their lead and knocked off the two-time defending Paralympic gold medallists and world champions. It was the first time since 2005 the U.S. has defeated Canada in international play.
"The U.S. men's team is the deepest, most well-balanced wheelchair basketball team in the world," said Chynoweth. "We had some great minutes from several different people in key games throughout the tournament and there is just no way to shut down all of our weapons."
In the dying seconds of the game, Canada inbounded the ball and Scott tightly defended Anderson, knocking the ball away to preserve the team's two point lead. Counts scooped the ball up in the corner to seal the victory as time expired.
"We kept the pressure on and played to win," said Chynoweth. "Once we had the lead late in the game and were able to bring in Matt Scott to play defense, we liked our chances."
Scott led the team with 13 total steals in the six-game tournament. In other games, the U.S. defeated Puerto Rico, 93-16, Argentina, 85-35, Colombia, 81-34, Venezuela, 98-34, and Brazil 79-35.
"Winning this gold medal was a huge accomplishment," said Scott. "Not only for each of us on the team, but for our families, friends, and most of all, our country. We knocked off the reigning world champs and it feels good to be on top. However, we all know its going to take a lot of work to stay there.
Scott was just one of several UW-Whitewater affiliations on the national team that competed in Brazil. The team included current Warhawk wheelchair basketball players Joe Chambers, Ian Lynch, and Jaime Mazzi, as well as former players Jeremy Lade and Jake Counts. Current UW-Whitewater Head Coach Tracy Chynoweth served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team, UW-Whitewater alumnus Steve Wilson served as head coach and fellow alumnus Mike Bauler was the team leader.
However, it was Scott's big play down the stretch that is the reason why the team held on to their lead and knocked off the two-time defending Paralympic gold medallists and world champions. It was the first time since 2005 the U.S. has defeated Canada in international play.
"The U.S. men's team is the deepest, most well-balanced wheelchair basketball team in the world," said Chynoweth. "We had some great minutes from several different people in key games throughout the tournament and there is just no way to shut down all of our weapons."
In the dying seconds of the game, Canada inbounded the ball and Scott tightly defended Anderson, knocking the ball away to preserve the team's two point lead. Counts scooped the ball up in the corner to seal the victory as time expired.
"We kept the pressure on and played to win," said Chynoweth. "Once we had the lead late in the game and were able to bring in Matt Scott to play defense, we liked our chances."
Scott led the team with 13 total steals in the six-game tournament. In other games, the U.S. defeated Puerto Rico, 93-16, Argentina, 85-35, Colombia, 81-34, Venezuela, 98-34, and Brazil 79-35.
"Winning this gold medal was a huge accomplishment," said Scott. "Not only for each of us on the team, but for our families, friends, and most of all, our country. We knocked off the reigning world champs and it feels good to be on top. However, we all know its going to take a lot of work to stay there.
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