As classes were dismissed early for the Red Storm’s annual unified basketball assembly game, students, teachers, staff and fans watched from the bleachers as players on the Saranac Lake unified basketball team — a squad dedicated to unifying students with and without learning disabilities — took on the Beekmantown Eagles in four quarters of inspired basketball.

While the Eagles left with a 34-25 victory, the outcome didn’t really matter as the Red Storm faithful cheered on not only the hosts but the visiting Eagles as well.

“It really shows what unified basketball is all about,” Saranac Lake unified coach Patrick Kissel said. “It’s about coming together, supporting everybody and giving everybody and opportunity to have the time of their life, and boy did they ever do that.”

The game started relatively close, with Beekmantown leading 14-12 at the end of the first half. However, the Eagles took control of the contest after intermission, despite some hot shooting by the Red Storm, which included a 3-point shot from Saranac Lake fan favorite Tyler Hochwald.

Saranac Lake unified basketball player Ryan Knight looks to take a shot during Thursday’s game in Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

While Saranac Lake didn’t come out on top, seven players — Hochwald, Ryan Knight, Christian Giroux, Shannon Thivierge, Cody McDuff-Taylor, Jatie Colby and Ivy Liberty — scored at least one basket.

“I think almost all of our guys and girls had some points,” Kissel said. “They got their opportunities. Some had some good looks, and some had some not-so-good looks but made a shot. At the end of the day, I wish we could do this every week, but it makes it so special when you get everybody together for this community event. It really shows the positivity, the kindness and the caring that we do have, which is always nice to see given the relative nature of everything around the world.”

The school event was bigger than just a basketball game, as the Saranac Lake’s chorus sang the national anthem, and during halftime, a student played his electric guitar, strumming some ’80s classic like Master of Puppets by Metallica.

“Ebyn, our guitar guy, he’s been practicing for weeks. He loves to jam out. He’s a fan favorite. The whole school has been talking about him,” Kissel said. “It’s such a wonderful thing to get everybody involved. I’ve had so many people come up and say to me, ‘This is really great. We’re really excited for this game. Are you ready to go? How are all the players feeling?’ It’s really a great sense of pride here and it’s really something special here in Saranac Lake.”

While the crowd had some favorite players, including Knight, an eight-grader who had a whole section, that held up signs that read “Knight Rider” and “Ryan Rocks,” Hochwald, a long-time unified basketball player, made sure the crowd was never quiet. The senior energized the crowd by raising his arms up and down, no matter the outcome.

Saranac Lake students celebrate after Tyler Hochwald drained a shot during Thursday’s unified basketball game against Beekmantown. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

“(Tyler’s) a champion and he’s a fan favorite,” Kissel said. “Ryan Knight, this is his first year playing with us, he’s fast become a fan favorite. They’re super guys.”

After watching each unified player leave with a smile on their face, Kissel, who has helped coach the unified basketball at Saranac Lake for the past four years, said this is a job for life.

“This is something that you want to do for life,” he said. “This is why we teach, why we coach and why we’re here.”

Along with Beekmantown and Saranac Lake, five other Section VII schools — AuSable Valley, Peru, Plattsburgh, Saranac Central and Ticonderoga — compete in the unified basketball league. All seven teams play against each other at least once, and each school holds one assembly game, right before the end of the school day.

“We’re actually doing an assembly game for (Beekmantown) on Monday and going there and they’re going to have their student body,” Kissel said. “We find these games, when you have the student body, it brings out a level that’s just nuts out there.”

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival King Ricky Sullivan, left, and Saranac Lake unified player Tyler Hochwald, right, talk during halftime of Thursday’s unified game. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

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Saranac Lake roster

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2. Ryan Knight, 8th grade

3. Christian Giroux, 10th grade

Saranac Lake students celebrate after Tyler Hochwald drained a shot during Thursday’s unified basketball game against Beekmantown. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

10. Shannon Thivierge, 12th grade

11. Caleb Akey, 12th grade

12. Cody McDuff-Taylor, 12th grade

14. Jatie Colby, 11th grade

15. Ivy Liberty, 11th grade

Saranac Lake’s Shannon Thivierge looks to shoot during Thursday’s unified basketball game against Beekmantown. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

20. Melvin Cirikovic, 12th grade

22. Tyler Hochwald, 12th grade

44. Brady Owens, 12th grade

Saranac Lake students celebrate after Tyler Hochwald drained a shot during Thursday’s unified basketball game against Beekmantown. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Saranac Lake’s Ivy Liberty looks to shoot during Thursday’s unified basketball game against Beekmantown. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)