Starting the season strong, the Special Olympics Basketball Team defeated the staff team in the annual exhibition match up.

During the first half, the Rockets maintained a comfortable lead, but by the end of the second half, however, the staff team managed to tie the game 44-44. With mere seconds left on the clock, the officials called a technical foul on staff team head coach, Todd Jacobson — a final free throw would decide the game.

To shoot the potentially game ending shot, head coach Chad Oeftger sent in Dominic Doucette, junior. Doucette, a veteran player who helped take the team to the state championship last season, drained the free throw making the score 45-44, with no time left on the clock.

Thursday marked the third year in a row that the Rockets have come out on top of the teachers, but the real competition lies further down the road. The Rockets face many worthy adversaries in the trek for a second state title, and success will require the 100 percent effort of everyone on the team.

Gallery • 16 Photos

Photo by: Frank Slavinsky

Phase 2² - Nov. 16, 2017