Photo provided Athletes with the Indian Creek High School unified sports team bested the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in a rematch during a March Gladness basketball game on March 27.

WINTERSVILLE – Indian Creek High School students dominated deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on a different court during the March Gladness Unified Sports basketball game on March 27.

With the final shot by Paxon Gorby, the high school team attained a 56-47 win over the JCSO in a rematch that was two years in the making. Unified sports combine students with developmental and intellectual disabilities and general pupils in a blended team, but the Creek players did their best to battle it out with the deputies and keep control of the ball throughout the game.

Creek members included most valuable player of the game, Misha Amis, as well as captain Kaleb Mannion, Brayden Stewart, Tatum Deem, Alex Fabian, Jabari White, River Adams, Ethan Starr, Colton Dawson, Landon Cullen, Parker Heath, David Howe, James Donaldson, and Kristi Sciarra with Francis Barcalow as coach. The JCSO team included Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr., Major Tommy Koehnlein, Sgt. T.J. Scott, Sgt. Brad Polaski and Deputies Matt Morgan, Chris Horner, Zach Stackhouse, Jake McGinnis, and Doug Hardsouk.

Students, staff, Creek athletes’ family members and other supporters filled the bleachers while cheerleaders Aziah Ade, Peyton Ewing, Shayne Scott, Haylee Shaffer, Tylee Spencer, Blissani Locke, Ava Bell, Madelynn Adams, and Abbey Pendleton rallied for the team. It was a fun-filled day and organizers said the goal of the matchup was to promote inclusion, while it also tied into Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

“It was great and everybody was involved,” said ICHS Unified Sports Coordinator Amber Scott. “I hope to continue this every year.”

She added that Deputy Matt Morgan, who serves as ICHS school resource officer, set up the event and everyone was quickly on board. Scott was proud of her team and made a playful jab at the JCSO, saying the kids reigned supreme in the end.

Abdalla took the loss in stride and said the real reward was engaging with the youth.

“We were hoping to come and get some early scores, but that didn’t happen. The Creek team was getting 3-pointers and rebounds and kept us off the board, but we had a great time,” he commented. “It fills our hearts to come out and do this, and I appreciate all of the unified athletes for the camaraderie and for making us feel at home.”

Abdalla also thanked Jefferson County Unified Sports Coordinator Tom Mort, Scott, Superintendent Dr. T.C. Chappelear, Assistant Superintendent John Belt, and ICHS Principal Louie Retton for their support.

Mort was pleased with every matchup the unified sports program has held but said this event topped them all.

“It seems like every game was the best one yet, but this was the best one yet,” Mort added. “The sheriff said playing the game means so much and brings them closer to the community.”

Chappelear echoed those comments.

“I want to thank the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Abdalla and the deputies who played in the game,” he concluded. “They did a great job and it looked like they were having as much fun as the kids. As far as our kids – I love it when a kid gets a roar from the student body. Every kid should get some cheers along the way. I love this program and I appreciate all the hard work that the kids and adults involved put into it.”

Meanwhile, the next unified sports event is a track meet scheduled between ICHS, Buckeye Local and Edison at Edison High School on May 10.