Hull athletes play in state’s first Unified Basketball season
The Hull Unified Basketball Team participated in the first-ever season of play in the sport under the Massachusetts Unified Sports program run by Special Olympics Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. It allows students with disabilities the opportunity to play sports alongside their peers in a fun and supportive environment.
FIRST SEASON IN THE BOOKS. The Hull Unified Basketball Team has completed a successful first season. [Photo courtesy of the Hull Public Schools]
The Hull Unified Basketball Team has 15 co-ed students and is coached by Hull High School teacher Hannah Hutchinson, South Shore Educational Collaborative Mini School teacher Dan Tramontana and SSEC Mini School assistant teacher Mackenzie McDonald.
The team has regularly scheduled practices, one to two times per week, and competes in regular season games.
The first game was held on March 16 against Pembroke. In the end, Hull came up short, 26-20. During the second and final regular season game on March 27 at Memorial Middle School, the Hull defeated Canton, 39-27.
“It was amazing to watch these students build their confidence and form new friendships throughout the season,” said Superintendent Judith Kuehn. “I want to thank all students and staff who volunteered their time to make this season so special.”
The Hull Unified Basketball Team participated in the Unified Basketball Post-Season Jamboree, an event in which unified teams from surrounding districts play in a tournament of shorter games against a variety of opponents.
Family members, friends and students attended the jamboree at West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School on March 30 to celebrate the completion of the first-ever Massachusetts Unified Basketball season. To kick off the event, Hull student-athletes participated in a parade into the gym, where they sang the national anthem before facing both Canton and West Bridgewater.
“I truly loved coaching our Unified Basketball team this year,” said Coach Hutchinson. “It was amazing to see the sportsmanship and camaraderie these student-athletes exhibited in each practice and throughout the entire season.”
Following the tournament, players were awarded ribbons from Special Olympics Unified Sports as a symbol of their hard work and successes throughout the season.
“The first season for the Hull Unified Basketball team brought even more success than we could have ever imagined,” said SSEC Mini School Program Director Maureen Gattine. “I am greatly looking forward to continuing this program for many years to come.”