The boys varsity and junior varsity basketball team put on a free basketball clinic for the Special Olympic players in the gym on Saturday, Nov. 1.

“Derrick Richardson, who is the head junior varsity coach and the assistant varsity coach, works in the Special Education Department so he was able to schedule the event with Varsity Coaches Anthony Morgan and Nathan Leraas,” Special Olympics Coach Robert Holden said.

The players demonstrated how to dribble, pass and shoot.

“The clinic was great,” varsity basketball player junior Emeka Obukwelu said. “My favorite aspect was interacting with the kids by showing them skills and defensive drills.”

All the players benefited from the clinic through their common interest in basketball.

“The JV and varsity players benefited by spending time tutoring and coaching individuals they typically don’t have much interaction with,” Holden said. “The Special Olympics players enjoy the game of basketball just as much as the JV and varsity players, so they had that in common.”

The Special Olympics players especially enjoyed the opportunity to attend the clinic and liked getting to work with the basketball team, whom they look up to.

“The Special Olympics players felt like they were in the presence of celebrities,” Holden said. “They asked the JV and varsity players to autograph their shirts, and they stayed afterward and shot baskets.”

The clinic also attracted student supporters such as junior Jillian Haug.

“I came to support my friend Danny and some of my other friends who were playing on the Special Olympic team,” Haug said.