The Fort Calhoun Unified Basketball Team played its first-ever home game and second overall Thursday against Bennington.
For it, the host squad — which has a roster comprised of Special Olympics athletes with disabilities as well as classmates to support and play alongside them — wore a special Fort Calhoun Unified shirt. They weren't the only ones in the gymnasium wearing them, though.
“(Special Education Director) Ashley Dougherty sold these and had to order them multiple times because so many people bought them,” Pioneers coach Paul Wilson said. “So the community and schools have bought in, for sure.”
Bennington eventually topped Calhoun 20-16 in-between the night's varsity girls and boys basketball games against Tekamah-Herman. As a result, though, the gym was at its fullest Thursday for the Unified contest. It may have been its loudest, too, as an enthusiastic group of hoopers celebrated along with crowd at every made basket.
“They're super excited,” Wilson said before the first whistle. “They were really nervous going into the Ashland game because we just didn't know what to expect — at all. Now, everybody kind of has a feel for it. They're getting more confident and they've been really excited at practice.”
The visiting Badgers scored a 6-0 lead early during the game before William Maxon notched the Pioneers' first home bucket. Will Turley added another and Noah Le had two more before the end of the first half.
Le, a Fort Calhoun sixth-grader, tallied another two points at the start of the second, pulling Fort Calhoun within 12-10. He looked straight to the end line where the FCHS cheerleaders, who were wearing the same shirt as him, celebrated with him.
Le finished tied with Turley for the team lead in points with six. Maxon and Adam Bannister had two apiece, too.
The Unified team was only initially scheduled for its January game at Ashland, but was able to schedule Thursday's in the weeks after it. Wilson said dedication to the Pioneers has remained strong through its short history.
“Anytime we've added practices or gotten together, people will want to be there,” he said. “Even if an athlete or partner is going to be absent, the other one still wants to stay and be apart of it as a whole.”
Fort Calhoun's chemistry has grown with time, too.
“It's been cool to see that develop with the full group wanting to be here,” Wilson said. “Wanting to be apart of it.”
Bleachers seats full of cheering spectators were apart of it Thursday night as well.
UNIFIED HOOPS LINE SCORE
Tuesday
Bennington 20, Fort Calhoun 16
BEN 12 8 — 20
FCHS 8 8 — 16
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