CHARLOTTE -- The Charlotte Hornets aren't the only basketball team on a winning streak this year. The Rollin' Hornets are headed to nationals next week.
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association is hosting the championship games in Kentucky, and dozens of players from the Charlotte area have qualified to compete.
"We practice dribbling, we practice shooting, we scrimage," said Preston Howell, assistant coach to the prep team (ages 5-13) and father of one of the players. "Everything a regular, able-bodied basketball player would do, we do in a wheelchair."
The prep team is ranked 6th in the nation.
"You don't have to be in a wheelchair to be a player," said Katie Hipps, whose 11-year-son Josh plays on the team. "You have to have a lower limb deficiency that makes it so you can't play on a regular basketball team."
Hipps says a 2010 car accident left Josh with two broken legs, broken hips, a broken pelvis, and a severe spinal cord injury.
"After the car accident, I thought, 'Well ok, we'll look at other things he wants to do,'" said Hipps. "And I did not expect him to be an athlete. It's just been amazing."
Josh says it takes a lot of practice to play wheelchair basketball, but he's putting his skills toward a big goal.
"Our team has never won a game in a national tournament, so kinda hoping to win I guess," Josh said.
Three Rollin' Hornets teams - the prep team, varsity squad, and the adults - are heading to nationals next week.
"I just hope we play well and have fun, and do the best we can every do," said 11-year-old Preston Howell.
No matter what the outcome of the game is, these kids are learning an even bigger lesson off the court.
"That being in a wheelchair is not going to stop him from doing anything he wants to do," said Hipps.
For more information on the team, visit www.rollinhornets.org.