The Unified Basketball team defeated their rivals, the Newton North Tigers, in a sweeping victory, 98-59, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the Schluntz Gymnasium.
This matchup was also for the Shoulder Check Initiative: an organisation created to support mental health in sports. Head coach Joslyn Vendola said that the initiative reflects the same beliefs the team stands for.
“The Shoulder Check values are incredibly important, and in unified sports, it is built into the culture of it,” Vendola said. “The players like each other. They look out for each other. They are truly friends on the court, at practice and in school.”
The Warriors came out blazing in the first half, winning the tip-off and quickly creating a lead with a few strong possessions. Senior and captain Ramses Smith Jr. paved the way with a decisive layup, quick rebounds and a few crucial assists.
“We were just going at it,” Smith Jr. said. “Playing at our pace, we were getting rebounds and scoring the ball.”
The Warriors came out on top at the end of the first half, 46-29.
Senior and captain John Carroll said the team’s exemplary performance was due to the work they’ve been putting in in practice.
“It was just our communication and chemistry as a team,” Carroll said. “We’ve practiced really hard together and we’ve learned about each other and our tendencies and we’ve been able to translate that to the court.”
Going into the second half, the Tigers started with the ball, yet the Warriors did not let up their intensity. Within the first minutes, they extended their lead to 52-29.
The Warriors’ stands were ecstatic after senior Raya Weintroub pulled up to the line for an incredible shot and her first three-pointer of the season.
Vendola attributed the team’s skill on the court to their training.
“They’ve been working really hard in practice,” Vendola said. “We’ve been focusing on our fast breaks, our tough one-on-one defense and our rebounds.”
However, the Tigers did not go without a fight, stepping up their defense, but the Warriors’ relentless offense couldn’t be stopped.
With a final Warriors offensive push led by Carroll, Smith Jr. and junior Bart Chen, the game ended with a final score of 98-59.
The incredible win left a celebratory mood among all those in attendance, and Smith Jr. was tremendously proud of his teammates and their performance.
“I think we played good all around. We were getting guys open, guys were hitting their shots,” Smith Jr. said. “I think when we play our best, we’re an unbeatable team.”
