Wade Cieslinski, left, defends against Dominic Berriman (34) during a game between Hancock and Copper Country Intermediate School District on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Hancock, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Hancock High School gym was standing room only on Wednesday afternoon as the district hosted the third annual Unified Championship Basketball Game.

The game gave students in Hancock’s Copper Country Intermediate School District to have some fun on the court and celebrate Bulldogs spirit.

“This was by far our best year,” said organizer Maren Rouleau, who is the high school, special-ed instructor at the Copper Country ISD.

Rouleau said they first hosted this event in 2020 as a way to give the ISD students a “big-game experience” as the local high schools were having their rivalry games such as Wing Ding.

“The goal is to promote inclusiveness and to show that these kids are part of the school system as well,” she said.

While the afternoon game was fun in nature, the action on the court turned out to be quite competitive.

The 18 ISD students were divided into to two teams, white and red. Hancock basketball players from both the boys’ and girls’ teams filled out the team lineups. There were referees and four nine-minute quarters as everyone got ample time to show their skills. The Hancock pep band provided the National Anthem and the half time musical entertainment.

While the white team pulled out to a 10 to 4 lead to open the game, the red team came back to make it a 16-11 game at halftime. Nobody was afraid to shoot the three, and in fact, sharp shooter Jesse Shelifoe credited his four points to his “magical shoes.”

After three quarters of play it was a one-point white team lead at 24-23. The tension got even thicker in the fourth as the game was tied at 26 and the at 28.

It was then that white team member Wade Cieslenski picked up his game with less than 90 seconds left.

“The ball came into my hands somehow, and I shot it, and it went in,” he said. “I sealed the deal, and we were able to hold on and win.”

Cieslenski’s basket put the white team up 30-28 and another bucket from a teammate made them winners at 32-28.

“This win was for my grandad,” Cieslenski said. “He was my biggest fan, but he passed away two years ago. He loved coming out to see me play.”

That’s the way it should be, said Rouleau.

“The kids super excited about being able to play and compete,” she said. “And of course they enjoy playing in front of their family and friend who cheered them on. It is a great feeling for them to feel apart of something.”