It was simply a basket. More specifically, the first basket made by the home team - Thornapple Kellogg High School’s Special Olympics basketball team. It happened Thursday in the annual TKHS Heidi Prior Special Olympic Hearts and Hoops Tournament.
“Hearts and Hoops is an event that our athletes, staff, and student body look forward to every year. Our athletes love putting on their uniform and getting out onto the court. What makes it even better is the recognition, support, and cheers from the stands. I think it is important too for our high school students to see that students with disabilities are still their peers and love to participate in the same activities that they do. It brings everyone together and provides such a positive experience for all,” said coach and teacher Jillian Foster.
The bleachers were packed with the entire high school student body, who couldn’t wait to erupt with cheers for their team’s first basket. But the cheers didn’t stop there. Cheers of “Go Black” followed by “Go Orange” spurred on the home team. Tommy Trojan gave high fives and fist bumps to the players as they came off the floor and the crowd choreographed the wave during a time-out.
Students kept up their cheers through the entire game for made shots from both teams and groaned at shots that didn’t quite go in. They were engaged and enthusiastic for their seldom celebrated classmates.
And no one probably even remembers the score.
That’s just the way Heidi Prior would have wanted to see the tournament happen again this year. Prior was a longtime TK teacher who started the Hearts and Hoops tournament at TK several years ago. The event was named in her honor in 2022 after she died in a traffic accident in 2021. Her husband, Jim, still comes to the games every year.
Principal Tony Petersen said the tournament is always a special day at TKHS. “Our team played their hearts out and the student body was amazing. I am so proud of our students for not just cheering for TK athletes but all of the SO athletes. This tournament is a great way to honor Mrs. Prior’s legacy. She would have been so proud of our athletes, our linkers, and the student body for showing so much love to all of the athletes.
This year’s tournament consisted of two teams from both Hudsonville and Kenowa Hills and one team from TK. The teams played games in the morning and afternoon and enjoyed lunch together.
TKHS students volunteered as referees, scorekeepers, and timers. High school teacher Matt Wonders says he never has any trouble getting volunteers. Most either play high school basketball, have helped referee youth sports, or are a part of the high school Links programs. The Links students are paired with students with special needs during the year to help in a variety of ways - whether it’s tutoring or helping them in different classes.
At the end of the day, most players and spectators lost count of the number of baskets made or the score at the end of the games, but none seemed to have left without a smile on their faces and a good feeling about a special group of students enjoying the spotlight for a day in a simple game of basketball.