Unified basketball battles to the buzzer

In a thrilling showdown on Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Niwot High School unified basketball team faced off against the Erie High School Tigers in an energetic back-and-forth contest. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Cougars narrowly fell to the Tigers, 64-62, in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

The Tigers won the opening tipoff, but it was Niwot sophomore Dallin Easton who put the first points on the board, giving the Cougars an early 2-0 lead. Junior Emmett Vertuca followed up with another basket, extending the lead to 4-0.

As the first half progressed, sophomore Taylor Teigen and Easton kept the Cougars ahead, with contributions from senior Jake Hostelley and freshman Sawyer Gall. The game remained close, with Erie tying the score at 14-14 with 9:30 left in the first half.

Gall quickly answered to put Niwot back in front, and as the half continued, baskets from junior Ethan Withnell and sophomore Te Esquibel-Davis helped maintain the lead. However, with 4:20 remaining in the first half, the Tigers took the lead for the first time at 24-22.

Teigen showed up to tie the game twice, and Vertuca evened the score at 28-28 just before halftime.

During the break, both teams came together to participate in Erie's halftime tradition, dancing to the "Cupid Shuffle." The camaraderie on display highlighted the spirit of unified basketball, where inclusion and fun are just as important as competition.

The second half started with both teams trading baskets. Easton and Hostelley continued to find the hoop, while freshman Isaiah Richart made his presence felt with three consecutive baskets, giving the Cougars a 38-36 advantage.

The Cougars fought to maintain their lead with scores from Withnell, Esquibel-Davis, and Teigen. However, with just 3:25 remaining in the game, Erie tied the score once again at 58-58.

Richart responded immediately, scoring to keep Niwot in the game at 60-60. But in the final minute, the Tigers edged ahead, 64-60. With just 25 seconds left, Gall secured a critical rebound, pushed the ball up the court, and took a shot.

His attempt bounced out, but Richart was there for the putback, cutting the deficit to 64-62 with five seconds left. Unfortunately for the Cougars, time expired before they could get another chance, sealing the Tigers' victory.

Despite the loss, Niwot's unified basketball team showcased resilience and enthusiasm throughout the game. Their ability to keep pace with Erie in such a tight contest demonstrated their relentless determination. More importantly, the game embodied the true essence of unified sports– fostering inclusion, celebrating each player's contributions, and enjoying the game together.

The loss brings the Cougars to an even 2-2 record, with one last regular season game on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at home against Silver Creek High School, with tipoff scheduled for 2:45 p.m. The Unified Basketball Tournament will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Skyline High School.