There was quite an event at White Oak High School on the day before Easter. A collection of some of the best basketball players in the area came together for a benefit basketball game – an all-star basketball game in the middle of baseball season. 

The event, “Hoop for Autism,” was the fifth in the annual series, designed to raise awareness of the disorder and accept donations for the Autism Treatment Center of Dallas.

Wood County was well represented. Quitman’s Madyson Pence was on the court as were Winnsboro’s Faith Acker, Shanda Davis and Faith Sechrist. 

Mineola’s TJ Moreland logged significant playing time, as did Quitman’s Brady Floyd. Quitman head basketball coach Cody Wilson and assistant Laettner Greenhill coached the boys red team. 

Before the tip, Coach Wilson commented, “It is such an honor to be a part of this benefit and to be around such high-quality players. This event is bigger than basketball, it is about family and community. I am honored to be here.”        

What followed was some excellent basketball. About 260 people took time out of their Saturday to be entertained, support their friends and family, and contribute toward the quest of understanding and treating autism. 

Unique events such as these two benefit basketball games usually have unique beginnings. This event was a collaborative effort of a coach and a parent. 

Coach Dee Lewis grew up in Gladewater and graduated from Gladewater High in 2005. His chosen career, as a coach and teacher, took him in a big loop around his hometown – from Pine Tree to New Diana, from Union Grove to Spring Hill, and finally to White Oak.

It was while at Union Grove, that he fell in conversation with Union Grove parent Christy Caviness. Lewis listened as Caviness described her desire to “do something” in support of families dealing with autism.  

The two wanted to accomplish something bigger than bake sales and raffles. The idea just seemed to fall into place: “We’ll host a basketball game.”

They formed a team, with Caviness doing much of the leg work and liaison with the Autism Center, while Lewis leveraged his contacts within the athletic world to work up the games.  

The team worked well. In its second year (and each year since) the games have drawn over $10,000 of contributions at the door. 

And the basketball? It was typical East Texas. The girls’ game was as competitive as any playoff basketball game this year. The Winnsboro girls and the blue team prevailed, 57-52. Canton’s Amari Welch would have undoubtedly been the player of the game had one been selected.

The boys game featured a lot of play-making, but not much defense. It was all about showboating. Light banter between the players, with the officials – who were clearly enjoying the game – entertained the crowd. 

In the end the red team of Coach Wilson took the win, 76-73.

For the larger cause, it was a win for everyone. 

In an effort to try to put some perspective on just what autism is (and isn’t) Dr. Carolyn Garver, director, Autism Treatment Center of Dallas, shared some insights.

“To begin to understand autism, one must appreciate that autism is not a mental illness and it is not a disease. Autism is a complex developmental disorder,” she explained.

Garver has been involved in directly treating people with autism since 1973. Her insights are born of vast experience in helping people who

“Autism is a complex, neurodiverse condition which often manifests itself in a combination of social and language deficiencies as well as sensory and behavioral difficulties,” she said.

Despite the years of research and practical treatment Garver has experienced, she also had to admit that much about the disorder remains a mystery. 

However, the condition is experiencing a pandemic-like increase, which is rendering a significant increase in awareness. Just how big of an increase? Garver remarked that when she started practice, autism was believed to occur at a ratio of 1:10,000 American children. That number is now 1:36. 

That increase is frightening. Garver related that the change in frequency has also led to a lot of speculation about possible causes.

“Everyone wants to blame someone,” she admitted. 

The disorder, she said, does not beg a simple answer. It is indeed a complex disorder. She said that there is great progress underway in identifying a genetic marker for the disorder. She described the condition as a hereditary condition which is triggered through environment. 

Garver’s specific treatments are centered on behavior. And, she said, each individual is at a different point along a spectrum of affected behavior.

It makes patience the single most critical element in providing care and treatment.   

Garver gave two anecdotes about successful treatment. She explained that autistic people often suffer from a lack of nuanced understanding. While treating one teenager who suffered from significant communication difficulties, she was discussing a story designed to evoke emotion in the patient.

The teenager remained uncommunicative to the question about why a certain photo appeared sad. Without a word, the youngster did answer, with a single crocodile tear. He had understood – in his own way – she recapped. 

Some time later that same patient went to a bookstore and bought a book on emotions to give to Garver as a gift. 

In another case, a nine-year old boy came into her care. One day, during discussions in her office, he asked, “Dr. Garver how did you build this building?” She answered “brick by brick.” 

“How did you build this wall?”

“Wall by wall,” she answered.

“And how did you build these windows?”

“Pane by pane.”

It then dawned on her, that this child could communicate in terms of building. She found him able to learn through translating things into the concept of building. 

Now 26, the young man is married and employed. 

Such stories are rewards in a life of service. They also come after significant investment of time and energy. 

In a telling summary, Garver explained that we must “foster independence among the autistic while preserving the dignity of risk.” 

So, there was an all-star basketball game – two actually – and maybe there will be more from it than just the game.