The gym packed full of 2,500 rabid fans was deathly silent as 17-year-old junior Jules Hoogland lined up for a free throw, the only noise in the arena, a solitary "tap, tap, tap" as coach Cheryl Beute strikes the back of the rim with a mop handle.
Jules is blind, and was attempting the shot during the final game of the season, an East vs West matchup as part of the Unified Sports Program for special education students.
Jules lines up her shot, and after several knocks from Beute, releases the ball.
As soon as the ball sinks nothing but net, the entire gym ERUPTS!
The Zeeland School District started the program a couple of years ago as a chance to grow friendships, and ensure everyone has a chance to participate in activities that normally wouldn't be available to them.
Unified Coach Jessie Steel told FOX 17, "To watch the culture shift of our school community really made a difference. And just to be able to watch how that's continued to grow. Students be accepted, students be shown that they matter and given a chance to really to prove that to the school body."
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