Turnstone Welcomes Athletes To Compete In Qualifier Tournament And Indiana Knockout Contest
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (January 19, 2024) – This weekend, Saturday, January 20 and Sunday, January 21, Turnstone welcomes wheelchair basketball athletes from the Prep and Varsity divisions to compete. Throughout the weekend, 13 participating teams will be vying for a bid to the 2024 National Wheelchair Basketball Association National Championships. Varsity teams include LWSRA/Synergy Hawks (New Lenox, IL); Rancho Halos (Downey, CA); RHI Racers (Indianapolis, IN); LWSRA/Synergy Hawks 2 (New Lenox, IL); MFB Junior Pacers (Grand Rapids, MI); ASPO Cavaliers (Cleveland, OH); and Louisville Jr Mustangs (Lexington, KY). Prep teams include LWSRA Synergy Hawks A (New Lenox, IL); MFB Jr Pacers (Grand Rapids, MI); RHI Jr Racers (Indianapolis, IN); Motor City Wheelz (Southfield, MI); LWSRA Synergy Hawks B (New Lenox, IL); and Michigan Rollverines (Ann Arbor, MI).
Local Turnstone athlete, Cole Connelley, is competing this season on the RHI Racers who are ranked #17 nationally and #3 at this Regional Qualifier. They'll play Saturday 11am on court 1 against the ASPO Cavaliers (Cleveland) who are nationally ranked #27.
Spectators are encouraged to come out this weekend to watch athletes play and to witness the Indiana Knockout Contest. Games start at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There are still a few score table volunteer spots open—no experience necessary to sign up!
NBA All-Star 24 Indiana Knockout Contest
As a part of this exciting weekend, Turnstone Center is also one of the statewide sites selected as a host for the NBA All-Star 24 Indiana Knockout Contest! The competition is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, at 2:00 pm in the Plassman Athletic Center Fieldhouse and is limited to the first 24 eligible registrants in attendance. Registration will take place on Saturday from 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm at Turnstone Center.
One winner will receive one (1) of the limited edition NBA All-Star basketballs used in the contest and two (2) tickets to the NBA Crossover that will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, from February 16, 2024, through February 18, 2024, as part of NBA All-Star 2024.
Contestants must be Indiana residents between the ages of 10 and 18. There is no charge for participants, and those under the age of 18 must have a parent present to sign the waiver to be able to compete. All participants at the Turnstone Center host site will be required to take their basketball shots during the contest from a basketball wheelchair. Basketball wheelchairs will be available if needed.