The Mt. Hope unified basketball team may have fallen to Rogers 52-46 in their first game of the season on Thursday, but that’s not really the point, according to Huskies head coach Tom Fullen. 

“It’s about the athletes having fun,” said Coach Fullen, “It’s all about the athletes. That’s why I have coached for 12 years. It’s about them going out and having fun and letting them do their thing. It’s great what they do after they score.”

Mason Conte raised his arms in triumph after sinking a jump shot during the game. He pointed to family sitting in the bleachers and high-fived his teammates while walking back to defend his basket. 

Coach Fullen spoke about a student he had a few years ago who went into the stands to give someone a hug and a kiss each time she sank a basket. 

“How can you not love it,” he said. “That’s what it’s about, as far as I’m concerned.”

Gauthier and Padula each score ten points

Paige Gauthier and Joe Padula each scored 10 points for Mt. Hope. Alan Leach and Claudia Rezendes each scored 8 points, Mason Conte scored 6 and Charlotte Mowery netted 4. 

The team consists of Maci Catalano, Mylie Cobb, Mason Conte, Michael Evans, Sienna Ferreira, Evan Garies, Paige Gauthier, Alan Leach, Caiden Mortensen, Charlotte Mowery, Joseph Medulla, Emily Reynolds, Claudia Rezendes, Analucia Romero, Lylah Vargas, Jesse Wilson and Jay Hernandez Maduro Lima. 

Coach Fullen said that he tries to teach the team the best that he can about basketball, but regardless of whether those teachings translate to lots of explosive plays on the court — that’s not really what the game is about, anyways.

“This team is different than any others that I have had,” said Coach Fullen. “They all take shots through the game. Then they perform their dance. It’s fun.”