The players will storm out the door ready to compete against the other team. They’ll get out their basketballs and shoot the ball around but it won’t be the team you’re used to seeing. The Special Olympics team will be competing with several other schools from the area in the Northern Virginia Section Hoops challenge, Feb. 20 at McLean, South Lakes High School, and Kilmer Middle School.

“The best thing is that they’re playing at Mclean and that is what excites them,” Coach Rita Kuntz said.

There will be two teams representing McLean: the Highlander team and the McLean team. The McLean team consists of more experienced and veteran players, while the Highlander team consists of newer players.

The teams will be bracketed against other teams that have similar skill levels. Each team will play two games, and the teams with the best records will be placed in a raffle. The two selected teams will play for the championship. The champions of the tournament will receive ribbons and will advance to the state tournament.

Each team is allowed a maximum of 10 players. The Highlander team, short on players, will only have two substitutes. The teams have been practicing after school Thursdays and Saturdays to prepare for their games. During practice, the players go through a rotation of skill training activities that help them learn the basics of basketball. McLean finished second in this tournament last year and hopes to do well again this year. Both teams are 1-1 this season.

“I think they’ll do great,” Kuntz said. “The Highlander team is all new and has a lot of potential.”

10 student volunteers help out at the practices. Student volunteers are also needed for the upcoming competition and sign ups began on Monday. The volunteers will help with the scoring and timing of the games. Some volunteers will also help during the registration process.

You can sign up to help out at the event in Kuntz’s room B167. The team is hoping that the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will help referee games.