Special Olympics basketball tryouts set for November

The Town of Cambridge announced Oct. 29 that the Cambridge Program for Individuals with Special Needs is inviting Cambridge residents of all ages to try out for its Special Olympics basketball teams this November.

Tryouts will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days at the Russell Youth and Community Center, 680 Huron Avenue. Anyone interested in competing is welcome to try out, and the program has three teams at low, medium and high levels of play.

The Cambridge Lightning, formerly known as the Cambridge Warriors, is the program's highest-level team. From 2018 to 2026, the team put together a 99-game winning streak, and this past summer it represented Cambridge at the Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota, finishing fourth in the country. With many longtime members moving on, the town said this season may be a rebuilding year.

The Cambridge Falcons compete at the Division 2 level, with players at a medium-to-high skill level. The Falcons have won a couple of Division 2 state titles and are aiming to compete for another this year.

The Cambridge Ryders are the program's developmental team, built for players who are learning the game or who have played before at a lower level, offering a place to build skills, confidence and teamwork.

All three teams compete in traditional Special Olympics basketball; the program does not participate in Unified Special Olympics, which combines players with and without disabilities.

The Cambridge Program for Individuals with Special Needs is part of the Recreation division at the Department of Human Service Programs and serves Cambridge residents with intellectual disabilities who are 11 years old and older. Questions can be directed to David Tynes at dtynes@cambridgema.gov.

Source: Town of Cambridge announcement, October 30, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.