Fort Myers High students erupted in cheers as Cody Baguidy hit the game-winning tiebreaker shot to give the white team the win over the green team during the 15th annual Inclusion Basketball Game on Friday.
Students, parents and friends alike cheered on athletes from the Life Skills program at the culmination of Inclusion Week, which celebrates special needs students who are traditionally excluded from school sports and activities.
"The excitement that even the general students feel, and how excited they are for the kids to be having fun and doing good and making baskets. Everyone is so happy," student Lauren Paylor said.
Garret Copeland, the unified sports coach who planned the event, sees the impact that game makes on the players.
"It's by far my favorite day of the year. I know how much it means to the players and our ESE students, but to know that our staff and our students look forward to it as well, it makes it a big deal," Copeland said.
Fort Myers has been playing this special game since 2015. About seven years ago the FHSAA adopted Unified Sports with some Lee County schools now offering unified basketball, bowling and track.
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