ON THE COURT — Edison High School hosted its first unified sports basketball game on Thursday against Indian Creek to celebrate inclusion and unity in blended teams of general students and pupils with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Creek was victorious by a score of 67-40 but everyone was a winner. Meanwhile, there are talks of a possible upcoming rematch. Shown is Edison’s Wesley Kimmerle taking aim for a basket. - Contributed

RICHMOND — Unified sports teams from Edison and Indian Creek high schools battled it out on the hardwood Thursday at Richmond, but there also was a show of community and inclusion.

Edison hosted the latest matchup — its first home game–and both sides worked to add points to the scoreboard, with Indian Creek staying ahead in the first period by 42-22. The players steadily traversed back and forth in the high school gym and Creek maintained the lead until the very end, shoring up a 67-40 victory with a basket from team co-captain Brayden Stewart in the final three seconds. However, the real win was the camaraderie between all of the players, because in unified sports each team includes general students and pupils with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Edison’s team included Student Leadership Council members as coaches, and rounding out the participants were Wesley Kimmerle, Braxton Antill, Jaidyn Carlson, Kaden Eddy, James Bonecutter, Olivia Ault, Brennan Butcher, Kyle Long, Sophia Henderson, Nolan Haught, Abby Carpenter, Abby Boka, Lacie Pelley, Paige Somerville, Clayton Boukenevitz, Allie Kireta, Bella Evans, Allie Whitlatch, Janelle Nicholson, Josie Profit, Tim Degarmo, and Andrew Kirkman. Indian Creek members included coach Franco Barcalow, co-captains Brayden Stewart and players Kaleb Mannion, Colton Dawson, Alex Fabian, Misha Amis, Tatum Deem, Parker Heath, Michael Campana, Jabari White, Landon Cullen, Ethan Starr, River Adams, David Howe, and James Daughtery with cheerleaders Aziah Ade, Peyton Ewing, Shayne Scott, Haylee Shaffer, Tylee Spencer, Blissani Locke, Ava Bell, Maddie Adams, and Abbey Pendleton.

The gym was packed with students from both schools as well as players’ family members cheering on all of the athletes, while Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. and members of the sheriff’s office were also showing support. Cheerleaders from Edison and Indian Creek were also on hand while the EHS Pep Band entertained the crowd. It was the first time that Edison hosted a basketball game, although they have played Creek in the past, and there were talks for a possible rematch during “March Gladness” at ICHS.

Christina Henderson, director of special education at Edison Local Schools, coordinated efforts with EHS Unified Sports Coordinator Ryan Sronce and said it exceeded her expectations.

“It was full of excitement, unity, and love,” Henderson said.

“Today was something fun to see,” added EHS Unified Sports Coordinator Ryan Sronce. “The kids came out and supported both teams, and the inclusion was awesome. We’re ready for a rematch.”

ICHS Unified Sports Coordinator Amber Scott was thrilled by the crowd’s response and the passion of the athletes.

“This is what inclusion is all about,” Scott continued. “I’ve seen people grow since they were freshmen until now and they demonstrated that it’s not about them, it’s about others.”

She also praised a nonverbal student who joined the cheer team, saying the teen’s transformation defined her career.

Meanwhile, Jefferson County Unified Sports Coordinator Tom Mort counted the game among the best ones held.

“This might have been the greatest event we’ve ever had,” he commented. “Both teams cheered each other on and it was one of the best events yet.”

Even the players were ecstatic about being part of the event.

“I liked everything about it,” said Wesley Kimmerle, a seventh grader at Edison.

“It’s good,” added Stewart, a senior at ICHS. “I like it all and had fun.”