Marion County Special Olympics Athletes Alex Alder of Pleasantville and Ben Heywood of Swan attended a Basketball Skills competition on January 23rd at Valley Community Center in West Des Moines.

During the basketball skills event the individual athletes competed in three skills: target pass, 10 meter dribble and spot shot. Alder finished 1st in his division and will advance to the State Competition In Iowa City on March 10th. Heywood finished 7th in his division. Next up for the Marion County Special Olympics athletes is the Dance Competition on March 10th at the Iowa City West High School for the Mid-Winter Games as well as the Spring Games at Indianola Middle School on April 10th, which includes track and field events. For more information about the events or Marion County Special Olympics, contact Maureen Schletzbaum at 515-848-3822.