Columbia Special Olympics team wins gold at State Championships

COLUMBIA – A Columbia Special Olympics Three-on-Three basketball team won a gold medal in the State Championships.

The Columbia Twisters made their first appearance at the state games this year. They competed at Timberland High School in Wentzville and won two out of two games to claim the state title on Saturday.

Five Columbia teams traveled to St. Charles County last weekend to compete in the State Championship games: one regulation team (five-on-five), three modified regulation teams and one three-on-three team.

The Twisters qualified for state due to their win/loss record after the Regional Championship games were canceled in February. KaShaye Mathews, 15, was a strong asset in leading the team to victory.

“The other kids on the team know to pass the ball to her, and she shoots and scores. It’s kind of our team play,” coach Trish Wallace said.

Jody Cook, recreation specialist of adaptive recreation and sports for Columbia Parks and Recreation, said in an interview in February that the team would not be able to continue on to the national championship game because it did not secure a nomination earlier in the year.