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Army Rolls to Gold in Warrior Games Wheelchair Basketball Championship

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The Army trounced the Marine Corps 62-23 in the wheelchair gold medal competition yesterday on the final day of the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy here.

Though Team Marine Corps trailed by only 4 points going into halftime, Team Army found its stride in the second half to emerge as unstoppable victors.

Novice players made up a fair share of both contending teams, making their medals all the more hard-fought and impressive, Army and Marine Corps coaches said. Still, the Army demonstrated a series of swift passes and deft ball-handling to maintain a solid lead before running down the clock at the end of the final period.

Army Spc. Stephanie Morris passes the ball during the basketball gold medal round of the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., June 21, 2016. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
Army Spc. Stephanie Morris passes the ball during the basketball gold medal round of the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., June 21, 2016. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
Army Spc. Stephanie Morris passes the ball during the basketball gold medal round of the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., June 21, 2016. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
Magic Morris Passing
Army Spc. Stephanie Morris passes the ball during the basketball gold medal round of the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., June 21, 2016. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
Photo By: EJ Hersom
VIRIN: 160621-D-DB155-034

Army Reserve Spc. Sydney Davis, a combat medic from Denver, earned a double-double in the gold-medal contest, in addition to demonstrating notable skill in shot put, discus, archery and rifle shooting during the games.

A Sense of Purpose

“Adaptive sports changed my life,” she said. “I started doing one sport, and the feeling was so addicting -- the feeling of support from the fans and competing again makes me feel like I have a purpose. You lose sight of that. You start to think that there’s not much more you can offer or that you’re wounded past fixing.”

Davis emphasized that adaptive sports competition gives many athletes the ability to recognize their repair and healing remains attainable, which saves lives.

The DoD Warrior Games showcase the resilience and warrior spirit of service members, veterans, their families and caregivers, competition officials said. Adaptive sports and athletic reconditioning activities play a fundamental role in the effective recovery and reintegration of service members and veterans, they added.

About 250 athletes from across the services, U.S. Special Operations Command and the United Kingdom armed forces competed in the 2016 Warrior Games.

(Follow Amaani Lyle on Twitter: @LyleDoDNews)

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