The unified basketball team seized a 54-40 victory in an infectiously positive and spirited game on October 10 against the Shepherd Hill Rams.

Unified basketball is a team that combines athletes with intellectual disabilities and partners without, the main purpose being to create a cheerful and supportive environment for all involved.

At the start of the game the energy was euphoric with crowd members, including various other fall sports teams, cheering all the players on. Signs in support for both teams were plastered on the walls, and all the players, on and off the court, had smiles on their faces.

“It was pretty crazy, but [I got] an adrenaline rush at the same time,” senior Nick Vaskas said. “[I was] a little nervous, because I wasn’t always sure about what I was doing, but I did a good job.”

Coach Zbysia Giegucz was happy with how the team played in their first game of the season.

“I think they did a great job,” Giegucz said. “We work as a team and we support each other, and winning isn’t the biggest thing.”

Freshman Andreas Bello and sophomore Alex Reyes-Rodriquez were the two highest scorers of the game, with Bello scoring 16 points and Reyes-Rodriquez scoring 10.

Being the first game, the team was able to identify the small details to work on in the future.

“I think we can improve on sharing the ball with each other, but other than that we’re all just having fun out there and enjoying it,” senior Naraylee Baez said.

Vaskas enjoys many aspects of being on the team.  

“[I like] meeting new people and hanging out with the people that I know,” Vaskas said. “I have a couple of close friends here who were in Best Buddies as well, and doing this helps me spend more time with them.”

Giegucz most enjoyed seeing the progression in new players.

“I love that some of the kids start playing basketball and they really don’t know how to play, and as time goes on they become really good at it,” Giegucz said. “There’s a lot of development that happens.”

Although they won, Vaskas was proud of both teams.

“I think the entire team did a great job, both Algonquin and Shepherd Hill, in this first game,” Vaskas said.

There was a tremendous amount of support and care for all players involved that comes from not only the coaches, but the stands as well. Fans cheered, regardless of which team scored, and almost every player scored or helped another athlete score at some point in the game.

“This is my first year and it’s been really fun,” senior Kevin Reddington said. “Us [partners] assist them with the ball here and there and give them support as we go along. I love it so far, and I’m glad I joined this year.”