BATH — The “Cha Cha Slide” and the Village People hit “YMCA” blared through the sound system inside Bath Middle School on Friday as players from Morse High School and Rich-Dale (Hall-Dale/Richmond) danced away with the big crowd clapping along.
Yes, Friday’s matchup was an athletic event as the Shipbuilders opened their home slate of Unified basketball against Rich-Dale, a game Morse won, 68-60.
But, it was the smiles, the high-fives, players from Morse passing to its opponent for a basket, and vice-versa, that makes this winter sport a feel-good event.
“It is such a feel-good thing, and to have all the players between both teams excited for a basket, it is great,” said Morse coach Becky Roak, who played at UMaine-Farmington and coached the Shipbuilder varsity girls basketball team. “When a player scores their first basket, like our Michael Laser and Sierra Gadson did today, everyone is cheering and it’s such a feel-good scenario.”
The combination of Rich-Dale has created bonds between the two communities as well.
“It is a terrific atmosphere, and everyone is encouraging the athletes, no matter what uniform they are wearing,” said Rich-Dale coach Bob Sinclair. “These kids get to play with some that they might not have an opportunity to play with, and they become friends and often stay friends. It brings the community of the school together, everyone is a team player and it carries on and off the court.”
Friday’s game pitted the 1-1 Shipbuilders against 0-2 Rich-Dale in a rematch of the opener at Farmingdale a week earlier.
Morse (2-1) was solid in the first half, riding the scoring of Keegan Companion and Cameron Dunlop, with the Shipbuilders claiming a 44-18 halftime lead.
There was a scary moment when Laser tripped and fell hard to the court. Players from both teams gathered to check on the senior, who walked to the Morse bench on his own power with cheers coming from both sides.
Later, Laser pocketed his first career basket, pumping his fist as he jogged down the court, seemingly riding on Cloud 9.
After the halftime show that featured players from both teams and the Morse Unified Cheerleaders dancing and entertaining the crowd, the visitors pushed back behind the scoring of James Gioia, who put in 18 of his game-high 24 points as Rich-Dale made a late run to draw close.
There were several other heroes on this day, with Companion scoring a team-leading 18 points for Morse, while Dunlop and Courtney Boucher finished with 12 points apiece. Eight points went to Isaac Smith with six more scored by Zoe Walker, with more scoring coming from Eli Ware and Chelsey Boucher.
For Rich-Dale, Emma Chase picked up 10 points, Brandon Smith had seven, and Zach Sanborn chipped in six. Other scorers for Rich-Dale were Genevieve Sposato, Ilene Gilman, Matthew Lorbeski and Savannah Strout.
At Morse, Roak has seen the camaraderie in the hallways and in the lunchroom, with special needs youngsters now a big part of the Shipbuilder experience.
“Through Unified basketball, as well as our Unified PE, they have a face in the school now and they walk around the halls, everyone knows them, and kids come up to them and say they saw them score,” Roak said. “In the past, they were down in their room doing their thing. Now, they are out and about, part of the school day. It is amazing.”
“I am really enjoying working with them,” added Sinclair.
Unified basketball will continue into March, with teams playing in either the Maine Principals’ Association’s postseason or the Unified Basketball Festival.
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