HOT SPRINGS -- Fannie Evans couldn't believe the size of the crowd that watched her Forrest City Special Olympics Project Unify team play basketball Friday afternoon.
As Jonesboro and El Dorado fans filed into the Bank of the Ozarks Arena, they were treated to the second of two Project Unify games -- Conway vs. Forrest City.
"They love it," said Evans, one of two Forrest City coaches. "They love having people watching them and seeing what they can do."
Project Unify is part of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program. The program offers sports, classroom and community experiences that reduce bullying and exclusion, promote healthy activity and interaction, and combat stereotypes and stigma. The program also attempts to eliminate hurtful language in schools and engage young people in pro-social activities that lead to more inclusive and accepting attitudes, behaviors and school climate.
The Project Unify teams are school-based teams on which athletes with and without intellectual disabilities are playing on the same team toward the same goal -- a victory.
The Arkansas Activities Association began working with the Special Olympics in 2014 to hold a Project Unify basketball game at the state finals. Mena and Forrest City played in the first game in 2014.
"Most of them would not get a chance to participate on a level like this for a state championship with other high schools," said Jennifer Grantham, the director of field services, initiatives and volunteers with the Special Olympics.
The Project Unify basketball games received the same treatment as the state basketball championship games.
The Alan Parsons Project's "Sirius" was played during the teams' introductions, and players' names were announced when they scored. The winning team received a trophy while Queen's "We Are the Champions" played, similar to the state title games.
Before the Conway-Forrest City Project Unify game began Friday afternoon, the Special Olympics oath was recited by Conway's Ebony Neal.
"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt," Neal said.
Hot Springs Lakeside won the state division B title with a 27-24 victory over Lincoln on Thursday, while Conway defeated Forrest City 28-26 in overtime Friday on Keondrick Kennedy's game-winning layup with less than three seconds left.
Devontay Bufford, a ninth-grader at Forrest City, said he was nervous playing Friday.
"But we still played our game," Bufford said.
Grantham said she expects 20 to 30 schools in the state over the next three years to add a Project Unify program.
Conway senior Erik Webster is one of the partners for his team. The partners are those without a disability who assist athletes with disabilities.
Webster had advice for kids who want to participate in Project Unify.
"You have to have an open mind and be patient," Webster said. "It means a lot to have this experience and to represent Conway."
Participating in the Project Unify program has been a rewarding experience for hundreds of children over the past four years.
"It feels good," said Mustafa Matthews, a ninth-grader at Forrest City. "It helps the schools."
Grantham hopes that the Project Unify program can be beneficial in terms of respect and compassion for those with developmental disabilities.
"I think it's going to help society be more accepting of people with developmental disabilities," Grantham said. "Not just in the sports world, but in real life."
Sports on 03/12/2017