The Right Attitude In Playing

Witts Springs, Arkansas, population one hundred, has a hard time producing athletes from a student body of forty-one in grades seven to twelve. But its athletes take team play to a new level.

In a basketball game with Leslie School, Witts Springs trailed by more than thirty points with just two minutes to go. The fans began to chant, “Put in Scotty.” “Scot-TEE! Scot-TEE!” Coach Nash waved Scotty Harmon in.

Harmon, who has cerebral palsy, took a pass on the perimeter and flung the ball toward the hoop. He missed. His teammates scrambled for the rebound and gave Scotty a second chance. He missed again, which started another fight for the ball.

“The kids know when Scotty’s in there, their game is over,” Coach Nash said. “They’re doing it for him. The atmosphere changes. If they’re worn out, they’ll break their necks to get that rebound. Our kids will go above everybody to get the ball to Scotty.”

On his fourth try, Harmon sunk a three-pointer. Fans on both sides of the gym cheered wildly. The scoreboard showed Leslie, 89; Witts Springs, 58, but everybody left a winner.

 — Larry Pillow, Arkansas Democrat Gazette (February 7, 1999)