Energy, excitement, and a last-second three-pointer—Verrado High School’s Unified Basketball Game against Millennium High had it all.
On Friday, during Viper Connect, students packed the gym to watch an unforgettable matchup as Verrado’s Unified team took on their rivals in a high-energy showdown. If you’re unfamiliar with Unified Sports, it’s a program that brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities to compete as teammates, fostering inclusion, teamwork, and—most importantly—fun.
And this game? It was the perfect example.

From the opening tip-off, Verrado’s squad played with passion, showing off their skills while the crowd cheered them on. Every bucket was met with wild applause, and every defensive play had students on the edge of their seats. But the real magic happened in the final seconds.
With the score tied 10-10, the Vipers grabbed a clutch rebound and kicked it out to Tanner Gardner, who had one thing on his mind: send the gym into a frenzy. Without hesitation, he launched a deep three-pointer just before the buzzer—and swish! The crowd erupted, teammates celebrated, and Verrado secured the thrilling 13-10 win.

We caught up with Mr. Duplain, one of the game’s organizers, to talk about the big moment and what makes Unified Sports special.
“The students enjoy the competition, but I think they really just love being around each other,” Duplain said. “We practice two or three times a week, and it’s all about building friendships and having fun.”

As for Tanner’s clutch shot? Absolute legend status. “Vipers got the rebound, and Tanner had a three-pointer on his mind—so he took it,” Duplain added.

The Unified Basketball Game wasn’t just about the final score. It was about inclusion, teamwork, and school spirit—and Verrado High School brought it all. Go Vipers!