03/26/2026

Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities hosts annual basketball classic

Zach Mosca

LISBON - The Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) hosted its annual Basketball Classic on Wednesday, March 25.

CCBDD staff took on the Columbiana County Comets Special Olympics basketball teams at the Nace Gymnasium in Lisbon.

The competition featured two games - a junior varsity game and a varsity game.

In the junior varsity game, the Comets beat CCBDD staff 36-4, with Phil Stewart scoring eight points for the Comets, Ray DeWalt and Cody Jackson scoring six more apiece and Josh Niswonger scoring four points.

Other contributing players included Freddy Beshara, Destiny Reynolds, Antonio Maxwell, Kiersten Estes, Zack Adkins, Jada McCoy and CJ Adams.

The Comets also prevailed in the varsity game, winning 47-29. Matthew Ferguson scored 12 points, while Lucas Rhodes scored 10 and Bryan Weingart scored eight.

Other contributing players included Keegan Todd, William Davis, Jamie Gordon, Hannah Price, Bradley Donatella, Tommy Baun and Eric Crews.

The CCBDD staff team was led by Michael Newman, an individual served by CCBDD, who also serves on its Board of Directors.

Newman led all scorers with 15 points total.

Additionally, the competition saw the appearance of a special guest in the form of Youngstown State University mascot Pete the Penguin.

Pete was accompanied by two YSU cheerleaders.