Berry Basketball Team Competes, Wins Unified Basketball Tournament
By: Nick Gardiner
On Saturday, March 11, Charles County Public Schools held its annual Unified
Basketball tournament at Thomas Stone High School, featuring athletes from many Charles
County elementary schools and one middle school. Teams competed in two brackets to find out
which beginner team and which intermediate team would come out on top!
In the end, the Berry Jaguars defeated the Wade Wildcats to win the beginner’s bracket.
After losing a game early, the Jaguars fought back through the elimination bracket to win the
tournament. What really mattered, though, was the fun and teamwork that all of the athletes and
helpers experience throughout the Unified Basketball season and the tournament. One of the
coaches at Berry, fifth grade teacher Jennie Kotlarsic, loves what Unified Basketball does for the
kids. “It gives kids the opportunity to be part of a team, and it gives other kids (the helpers) the
opportunity to be mentors for the Special Olympics athletes.” The Berry Jaguars Unified
Basketball team thanks all who participated, including families, coaches, other staff members,
and the staff who put on the tournament. It was certainly a Saturday well-spent!