The Vikings unified basketball team headed over to Dartmouth for a tough game against the Indians Monday afternoon, Oct. 7. Though it was a close game throughout, the final half saw the Vikings’ defeat, 41-29.

Despite the loss, Captains Antonio Colon and Alton McCane said they felt good about their performance.

“I played really well,” Colon said. “I was a good defender and a good shooter. That’s also why they made me the captain, too.”

Colon said basketball is one of his favorite sports to play, finding his love for it while watching games on TV.

McCane said he’s looking forward to a fun season with “a lot of new teammates,” who he loves helping get baskets.

As one of the captains this season, he said, “My goal is to help this team out when they’re struggling.”

Maddison Doucette, who also plays on the team, said this is her first season in the sport, adding she decided to join after one of the coaches caught her getting a three-pointer on video. 

Doucette said she looks forward to helping out her teammates and hopes “we will have a great season.”

The team is led by Head Coach Mary Beth Kiernan and Assistant Coach Erin Wurlitzer.

Though it's her first year as head coach, Kiernan said she’s been assisting the team for years.

“I just love it,” she said. “It’s the best thing. I love working with these kids. They make me so happy, so I love spending time with them.”

This year the school is seeing its biggest participation in the sport yet, with 19 athletes on the team.

With great teamwork already established, Kiernan said her goal this season is just to teach the students a “really good, solid basketball game.”

She said she already sees them getting better with defense and shooting as the season goes on “and they’re having fun and that’s really what I care about.”

Kiernan added, “I just feel so grateful to hangout with these guys — they’re awesome.”