The student section roared all throughout halftime as a group of athletes took the court. The LHS Special Olympics basketball team was given the opportunity to play a short game during halftime of the first home game of the boys varsity basketball team. The game was a success, as sports marketing helped raise over $700 for Special Olympics.

   Emma Jones and Anna Carl are two seniors who were behind making the halftime event a reality. The two wanted to help out Special Olympics by giving them publicity and raising money for them.

   “We were creating a project at the beginning of the school year and it came to our minds that Liberty is so big on Special Olympics, but they don’t get enough big moments in front of everybody, especially a fan section like ours,” Jones said. “So we thought: why don’t we have them play at halftime in front of the fan section that’s going to be cheering crazy for them?”         

   Emma and Anna brought their idea of raising money and allowing them to play at halftime to sports marketing. From there, the sports marketing team helped make everything happen.

   “We proposed our idea to sports marketing and they helped us with knowing who to contact, the script and how to sell,” Carl said.

   The sports marketing team was able to get the Special Olympic t-shirts donated to them and sold them for $10 at lunch and the game. They also worked on getting the word out of the halftime game and donated all the proceeds to Special Olympics.

   “We designed the t-shirt graphic, found a local company to make the t-shirts. We also tweeted about the event, emailed leadership and our student section,” sports marketing teacher Sara Haverman said.

The game was a big hit with the fans and has become a highlight of the athletes who were able to play.

   “It was scary at first, but then when I heard people cheering I felt happy,” said junior athlete Reggie Koger.

   As far as the organization itself, Special Olympics is a sports organization where people all around the world with disabilities compete in numerous sporting events.

   “We have basketball, bowling and a track team,” basketball coach Michelle Jankovich said. “The kids come and compete like any other athletes would at the school and compete with kids from other districts in the area.”

   The team practices every Saturday at Liberty North for an hour getting ready to take on their next opponent.

   “We have similar expectations you would have in a high school. We run drills just like anyone else would and have them scrimmage,” Jankovich said.

   The Special Olympics basketball season consists of three tournaments. One has already been played in which the team gold team finished 2-0. The next tournament will take place February 13 at Blue Springs. Depending on how well that tournament goes, the team could advance to the state tournament in Fort Leonard Wood Missouri on March 18 and 19.

   The love and support from everyone cheering for them was greatly appreciated by all the Special Olympic players and coaches.

   “It was incredible, the kids were talking about it all week. I really think it’s important that they get to feel celebrated just like the kids at the high school were,” Jankovich said.