LYNN — If you walked into Marshall Middle School Thursday night, good basketball and smiling faces were aplenty – that’s because Lynn Special Olympics was in action.
The basketball team, which went 8-0 this season while winning the Danvers Indoor Sports League, was practicing for championship Sunday.
“We’ll be playing in the Massachusetts State Basketball Tournament at St. Mark’s School,” coach and coordinator Stephen Basden said. “Sunday is also World Autism Day.”
Lynn has been all over the highlight-reel this season. Michael Joyce said the best part of his game is shooting three-pointers, and, with a smile, said his nickname is MVP.
“It’s fun,” Joyce, who’s been with the program for 15 years, said.
Alyssa Damato has been on the team for three years, and said her favorite parts are defense and “putting the ball in the hoop.”
Joyce’s sharpshooting and Damato’s defense aside, Basden said Special Olympics is a great way to teach “training for life.”
“It’s really focusing on following directions, coordination, being a part of the team, sacrificing, and commitment,” Basden said. “It really becomes this cohesive training on how to be a part of the community.”
Basden, a Lynn native and Endicott College graduate, said his favorite part of Special Olympics is seeing kids take what they’ve learned, and applying it to other areas in life.
“[It’s] the one-off stories, like a kid making the freshman basketball team,” Basden said. “And maybe he never plays, but he’s able to go through the practice and go through the structure.”
Special Olympics of Massachusetts offers 23 sports, and works with Lynn Special Olympics to meet its needs.
“They provide the structure. They provide the league, put together the state tournaments, cover the insurance, and provide all of the regulations,” Basden said.
If that’s the foundation, it’s all Lynn from there.
“The program is only as strong as the coaches and the parents,” Basden said. “If you ask around the state about Special Olympics in the Lynn program, they’re going to say it’s one of the premier programs in the state.”
“It’s some of the most rewarding work,” Basden said. “If we don’t do it, nobody will.”
Basden, who drives 90 minutes to practice, oversees the coaching and development of all Lynn teams, including track and flag football among others.
Damato’s father, Dan, praised Basden for his coaching – both in athletics, and life.
“Stephen is great. He’s like a big brother to them,” Dan Damato said. “They listen to him [and] they all focus.”
Over the last few years, Lynn high schools have worked with Lynn Special Olympics to create unified teams.
“You create this sense of inclusion – this high school setting where, if you see each other in the hallway, there’s a reaction to be had,” Basden said.
Whether it’s from kids, young adults, or those who are older, Basden said help is always appreciated. For more information, contact Basden at [email protected].
“You always have something to give, even though you might be in need,” Basden said.
