A sporting chance.(THE GOODNESS OF AMERICA)

Eighteen-year-old Ryan Belflower's participation in Clovis (California) East High's Senior Night basketball game on February 16--the last home game of the season--was a triumph of persistence in the face of severe challenges. Ryan started talking later in childhood than most youngsters, and because of limited communications skills, he remained extremely shy.

The special education student often shot baskets with his older brother, Justin, and became a proficient shooter. However, his small five-foot, six-inch frame and difficulty in understanding the strategy required for a fast-paced team sport like basketball seemed to exclude him from playing the game competitively.

Ryan's love of the game prompted him to become part of the sport by a rather circuitous route. In ninth grade, he volunteered to be a manager of the girls' basketball team, performing whatever tasks needed to be done for two seasons. Encouraged by that effort, he performed a similar function for the football team. But his first love remained basketball. He convinced the boys coach, Tim Amundsen, to let him become a team manager, responsible for running the time clock, filling water bottles, getting balls, videotaping games. However, he also worked out with the team and received a team uniform, the same as any other player. The coach even put him into a few games during the last quarter.

"He's everything I want to represent Clovis East basketball," Amundsen told the Fresno Bee concerning Ryan's dedication and persistence.

With only four minutes to play in the fourth quarter on Senior Night, Clovis ...