SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Perhaps it was the most meaningful three hours of basketball this season.  No, it wasn’t a victory in a national tournament game. No one even kept score.  But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a celebration when an athlete made a basket. In fact, minor parties ensued after nearly every made shot throughout the evening. This was better than March Madness.

On Wednesday night, members of The Master’s College men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted and facilitated basketball clinics for seven Santa Clarita Special Olympics teams on Bross Court. Organized into three separate, one-hour clinics and scrimmages, nearly 80 athletes from teams bearing names like Sharkies, Blue Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Great Whites, Bull Sharks, Divas, and Makos laughed, hugged, and competed alongside TMC student-athletes.  Junior TMC women’s basketball athlete Bianca Cubello said, “It was refreshing to see people play the game we all love and have common ground with them to connect on. It was fun and a great blessing.” A local seventh grade Special Olympics athlete was overheard saying, “I got swatted, but I had four assists!”

Wendy Ellet, Regional Sports Manager for Special Olympics Santa Clarita, expressed her gratitude by saying, “Thank you for putting on such a great clinic! A big ‘Thank You!’ to your coaches and college players.”

An ever-enhancing relationship between The Master’s College and local Special Olympics organizers continues. TMC’s men’s basketball program has been involved in leading this annual March basketball clinic for years. Last year, the women’s team joined in the joy. During the summer of 2015, the influence grew as The Master’s College was a host site for approximately 180 athletes from four different countries that were participating in the World Games in Los Angeles. Then, just last month, Special Olympics Southern California hosted their spring coaches’ clinic on campus in Placerita Canyon. Nearly 100 volunteers in five sports were trained, while utilizing a variety of athletic and classroom facilities on The Master’s College campus.

Delewis Johnson, a member of TMC’s men’s basketball team, commented on his time by saying, “Interacting with those athletes was one of the most humbling experiences of my life as a basketball player.  I don’t ever want to take basketball for granted.”

It just may have been the most impactful basketball experience of the season.