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Schools

Get Amped Up for AMP1 Basketball at Mattituck High School

A stand-up amputee basketball league plays a Friday night charity game at Mattituck High School for the second year in a row.

For the second year in a row, the AMP1 Basketball team will play seniors and staff in a not-to-be-missed game tonight at 7 p.m. at Mattituck High School. 

The only difference between the AMP1 Basketball team and any other basketball team is that the players each have a prosthetic leg. They have the same passion for basketball as any other player — but maybe just a bit more determination and have some incredible new talent since they were here last year. 

The driving force behind AMP1 is Scott Odom, a 27-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas who, when diagnosed with bone cancer at 14, opted to have his right leg amputated above the knee with the hope of someday being able to once again play the sport he loved so much — basketball. After struggles most of us can only imagine Scott posted videos of himself playing basketball on his feet, one his own and one a prosthetic, hoping to attract the attention of other basketball players like himself who didn’t want to play basketball in a wheelchair. And slowly, his idea was off and running.

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AMP1 is comprised of men from around the country all with stories similar to Scott‘s, but also very unique. They travel around the US, playing basketball and speaking at schools and other venues to promote awareness and to inspire others to never give up their dream, whatever that dream may be. In January, Scott published a book about his journey “Stand Up. I Lost My Leg to Cancer, but Not My Dream," which is available at www.playfoundation.net.

 Mattituck has the honor of claiming 2 members of the AMP1 team, Ray Gurriere and Jovan Booker. Gurriere is originally from Brooklyn and lost his leg as a result of a motorcycle accident several years ago, and not too long ago, he owned a homemade furniture store in Mattituck called One Legged Chairs. Jovan is a senior at Mattituck High School and he was born missing a tibia in his right leg. His leg was amputated below the knee when he was 10 months old.  Jovan has played soccer and basketball his whole life and never let his handicap slow him down.

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Tickets are $5, available at the door tonight or at on Love Lane during the day today.  The game is sponsored by the Mattituck-Cutchogue Teacher’s Association and a portion of the proceeds from tonight’s game will be donated to the PLAY Foundation, which benefits disabled youth.

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