Indians stave off Vikings in unified basketball action
The Cape unified basketball team took on Indian River Jan. 11 in their second game of the season.
One of the main highlights came during halftime when athletes from both teams participated in a free-throw competition. Senior Alejandro Alvarez-Roman was the Viking to advance the furthest, reaching the finals. Cape coach Katie Collick was impressed with the halftime entertainment.
“That was the first time I’ve seen it,” she said. “The team commented to each other, ‘That is the coolest thing we have seen – to have the athletes come out!’ Our partners sat and cheered them on. It was so cool,” Collick said.
Cooperation between the two schools generated ample scoring opportunities to start the contest as the crowd responded gratefully with cheers of encouragement following quick buckets by athletes from both teams.
“Starting the game off like we did set the tone for the game and showed how fun this sport is,” Cape junior Alivia Heers said.
After one quarter, IR led Cape 20-15 in what was gearing up to be an offensive game. Cape junior Charlotte Maxwell was one of the Vikings to get on the board early.
“It was awesome playing out there. My favorite part was my basket,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell’s points didn’t come easy, but she is not one to worry about a few missed shots.
“I just told myself everything is fine,” Maxwell said.
Helping Maxwell and the other Vikings out on the court was Heers. The junior is a Jill-of-all-trades and fills whatever role her team needs.
“We had a lot of fun,” she said. “A lot of people took good shots, and there was a lot of good teamwork.”
Heers noted she enjoys playing unified because of the concentrated focus on the team and the emphasis on everyone having a good time.
Indian River began to slowly pull away as the game progressed, and while the Vikings started to stage a comeback in the third quarter, IR secured the 73-35 victory.
Proud of the efforts of her entire team, Collick noted the exceptional efforts put forth by sophomore Zane Richardson and seniors Connor Pencek, Noah Ryan and Peyton Lamson-Reich.
The Cape unified ballers will welcome Seaford to the Big House at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18.
