By John Harden/sports editor
More than 30 students and two faculty members turned out Friday for the NE Campus free-throw and 3-point contests.
Both NE student Donny Manor and NE counselor Amos McCluney prevailed over the other competitors placing either first or second.
Manor won the free-throw contest scoring 17 baskets of 20 in the first round and 14 of 15 in the final.
In the final round of the free-throw contest, Manor made 10 consecutive baskets before missing the 11th and managed to bury the remaining four baskets.
His biggest competition came from McCluney who scored 18 of 20 baskets in the first round to place in the final.
In the final against Manor, McCluney made seven consecutive baskets before missing, leaving open the possibility for a tiebreaker. But after McCluney missed his 12th attempt, Manor secured first place and McCluney claimed second.
“I love basketball,” McCluney said. “I’ll be playing until I can’t play no more. I’ve been playing for a long time, and I play whenever I can get the chance.”
McCluney has been playing basketball almost all his life and continues not only because of the love of the game, but also because he wants to inspire.
“Since it’s been such an inspiration to me, I wanted to come out here to inspire,” he said. “I want to inspire, and I want students to come out here to play if they have it in them and to never stop playing.”
McCluney played basketball through junior high, high school and college, where he earned a Most Valuable Player award.
McCluney’s experience and knowledge of the game helped him overcome competition in the second part of the event, the 3-point shootout.
Out of 15 3-point attempts, McCluney made nine baskets in the final round, which were enough to beat Manor’s eight, securing the win.
Instructional assistant Ken Foster helped organize the event and said the turnout was better than expected.
“It was a very good turnout,” he said. “Some of these students come in here often to play in the gym, but we never had this many in here at one time,” he said.
Bowling, the next NE Wellness Game, is scheduled for March 6 at Showplace Lanes.
“I’m hoping for a big turnout for [bowling] also,” Foster said. “Usually we don’t have that big of a turnout because it’s off campus, but everyone should know that it is free. If everyone knows it’s free, then I’m sure we’ll have a good turnout.”
For the bowling contest, students will meet at 12:45 p.m. at Showplace Lanes, 1901 Airport Freeway in Euless.
