The big cheers normally reserved for the fourth quarter came at halftime. It even drew Sequim’s hardwood squad out of the locker room and onto the sidelines to cheer on their classmates.

The intermission at Sequim High’s Jan. 13 boys basketball game saw the first Sequim Wolves Unified Basketball Game. Unified, an offshoot of Special Olympics, is a program where athletes and partners work together to create a positive team experience for all involved.

“(This was) a joint effort — a lot of different people were involved in this, from teachers to paraeducators (teacher aides) to the kids,” Sequim High School principal Shawn Langston said. “It came out great. Any time you get a chance for kids to learn and grow through athletics is a great opportunity.”

Langston, whose daughter Brittany coaches a Unified basketball team at Rogers High School in Puyallup, said there may be more opportunities for Unified sports if there’s interest from other Olympic League schools.