Basketball in her hands, Dakota Nesbitt races down the court, dodging opponents on her way to the basket. As Dakota navigates the drill during basketball practice, she's on a roll - literally.

The 7-year-old second-grader at Bucher Elementary School in the Manheim Township School District is a member of a newly formed wheelchair basketball team. The team, coached by Keith McMinn, practices on Friday nights at Spooky Nook Sports, 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim.

Keith held the first practice in October, and so far, the team has about 15 players, ranging in age from 7 to 17. They come from Lancaster, Harrisburg and York.

Keith saw the benefits of basketball firsthand when his daughter, Samantha, joined a wheelchair basketball team in Maryland, where they used to live. "She's been playing since she was 6 years old," Keith said, of his now-21-year-old daughter. "The sport changed the trajectory of her life." Keith and his wife, Sandy, noticed that being a part of the team helped Samantha increase her self-esteem, expanded her social life and led to academic improvement.

Originally from this area, Keith and Sandy moved back when Keith took a job as the director of Life Lion at Penn State Health. A retired Maryland state trooper, Keith had coached basketball and baseball before, and he knew local kids would benefit from a wheelchair basketball team, especially since Samantha's team had players who traveled from Pennsylvania to participate. He connected with Janetta Green of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, which is sponsoring the team.

There is currently no cost for participants thanks to a sponsor who is covering court time at Spooky Nook. It's an expensive sport to play, however, since players use special wheelchairs with cambered wheels for improved maneuverability. Each chair costs about $5,000, Keith said. He has been able to purchase some and some players have received chairs through grants, but the team is looking for sponsors to purchase more chairs.

For many of the players, this is their first experience in the sport chairs. "It's a game-changer for them once they get in one of these chairs," Keith commented. "Their faces just light up."

For almost all of the players, it's also their first time playing basketball.

"No experience is needed," said Sara Echegoyen, a junior at Manheim Central High School. "You don't have to be a great basketball player. Everyone is really nice and supportive. I've enjoyed meeting new people and just having fun."

Dakota's dad, Drew, said he loves watching his daughter on the court. "She's a little bit competitive, and she loves to go fast," he said, noting that Dakota used to travel to Maryland to play, but he's happy to have a team closer to home. "This is a phenomenal outlet for her. It's opened up a lot of doors for her."

Keith spends part of each practice going over basketball drills and rules while encouraging each player to understand what he or she brings to the team. He plans to begin playing games against other teams in February, starting with the team in Maryland.

He noted that much more is happening on the court than just a sport. "We try to teach life skills - independence, focus, teamwork, sportsmanship," Keith remarked. "We emphasize that this is about fun and fitness. The basketball is a bonus."

For more information on the team, contact Keith at 443-829-2460 or kmcminn@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.