LOWELL Lowell fire trucks met the team at the town limits, a sure sign that the Tri-Creek Red Devils were returning home from the Indiana Special Olympics earlier this spring with a state championship trophy.

It's a traditional for the firefighters to escort the state champions through town upon their return, and so it was for Ryne Milburn, Nick Parker, Dana Kersey, Scott Smith and Jayson Dahlin.

"They let the players ride inside the trucks because it was raining, and they were thrilled," said coach Teresa Parker. "Nick even asked if we were going to have an autograph session."

The Tri-Creek Red Devils, one of two Lowell High School basketball teams entered for the first time this year in the Senior Division 3-on-3 Special Olympics tournament, took top honors at the sectional held at Valparaiso University in mid-March before heading to the state finals.

In single-elimination play, they defeated the Vander County Panthers before winning the title with a win over the Pulaski County All-Stars.

"The score in both games was 20-10, and the teams were all well-matched," said Parker.

The half-court game is played until one team reaches 20 points or the teams have played 20 minutes, added Lori Brown-Runyon, a special education teacher at Lowell High School who coordinates the athletic programs.

Lowell's high scorer was Parker with 5-of-10 shooting from the field, while Smith added three baskets.

"Our teams had only played in leagues before this, not in traveling competition, so we were very excited to have them do so well," Brown-Runyon added.

Weekly practices started in January, added Parker, and the team finished with a 9-3 record.

"They all did very well," said the first-year basketball coach, who has helped with other sports in the past and was assisted by her husband, Tony Parker. "It was fun, and we had good support all the way. The families drove down in a caravan and all stayed in the same hotel, and everyone got to swim and had breakfast together."