The seed was planted first at the Milltown Primary School.
Now, the Basketball Buddies program has sprouted throughout the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.
Buddy Basketball, which was launched at Milltown 17 years ago, brings special education students together with their fellow schoolmates who are involved as the 4th Grade Peer Models.
Debbie Shah-Patel, the Speech-Language Pathologist at Milltown, serves as the Basketball Buddies Coordinator.
She has proudly watched how this heart-warming program has grown and the impact it continues to provide.
“Basketball Buddies at the primary level sets the stage and creates interest and excitement for this program as our students move on from Milltown School. A few weeks ago, I was watching my former students playing Unified Basketball at the High School,” Ms. Shah-Patel said. “It was amazing to see how many of my students have kept up their passion and interest in the sport. It was just as heartwarming talking to the parents of my former students and listening to the gratitude they had for Milltown School and the Basketball Buddies program.”
She is thrilled that this program was built first at Milltown and how popular it has become.
“The Basketball Buddies program has expanded to Eisenhower Intermediate School, The Middle School and most recently at the High School. It’s priceless knowing that Milltown School is where it all started for so many of our Bridgewater-Raritan students,” Ms. Shah-Patel revealed. “The empathy, inclusion, love for basketball, the importance of teamwork, and acceptance. This is why Basketball Buddies is so special to me and why I am so proud to be a part of this amazing program!”
Milltown’s annual Basketball Buddies Tournament will be played on Wednesday, April 2, and the highly popular game will once again be held at the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School gymnasium. Tip-off time in the showcase game between Milltown Maroon and Milltown Gold is set for 6 p.m.
Ms. Shah-Patel’s equally dedicated partner in this program, Gina Quaglia, who also serves as the Basketball Buddies Coordinator and is a Special Education Teacher at Milltown, shared her passion.
“Basketball Buddies is so special because it gives all students the opportunity to play a sport. It brings high schoolers, teachers, and fourth-grade peers together to create an inclusive experience where everyone benefits. Whether it’s learning how to dribble, pass, shoot, have patience, demonstrate empathy, or acceptance,” Ms. Quaglia, stated.
On the topic of dedication and passion are the two coaches for this Milltown showdown.
"I love coaching Basketball Buddies every year. It's amazing to see how the whole community comes together to make an unforgettable night for athletes and their families." claimed Shannon Chartowich, a Head Coach and a Physical Education Teacher Milltown.
Her opposing coach and fellow colleague in Milltown’s Physical Education department, Bryan Smith, agreed.
"Milltown students have a special way of coming together inside and outside of school to help, celebrate, and cheer on each other." Mr. Smith said.
Another group of participants are the Bridgewater-Raritan High School students who sacrifice their free time to pitch in.They serve as members of the coaching staffs.
Below are all of the special people who devote their time and energy to deliver a fantastic product.
Here are the Milltown Staff Volunteers:
Meghan Friedman, Courtney Rothkugel, Amy Stires, Jaime Bowman, Maggie Korbo, Eleni Ward, Joanne Weems, Debbie L. Rothbard, Cassandra Bloomer, Shannon Chartowich,
Bryan Smith, Melissa Sblendorio, Debbie Shah-Patel, Gina Quaglia, Dayna Thomas, Quinn Hickey and Principal Dr. Matt Lembo
Here are the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Senior coaches:
John Daniel Koroneos, Michael Gagliano, Ava Marcella, Kushal Patel, Rebecca Lin Madeline Caughron Jayden Patel and Liel Raines-Moshe
Here are the players:
Luciano Esposito, Ayushi Das, Carissa Goldberg, Ava Fernandes, Vasilisa Malenkova,Samuel, Stowe, Anaya Rivera, Martin Sindab, Brielle Queen ,Ta’Nyla McKenzie, Shashank Balaraj, Riya Arun, Savannah Williams, Noah Scales, Vihaan Pasumarthy, Visishta Kolli, Prayaan Sharma, Ridhaan Wadhawan,Swara Deshmukh, Thulasi Naguleswaran, Chris Kurzweil, Vivaan Sharma, Pharin Kokulan, Milan Labanda, Siddanth Udaiyakumar, Kabir Dhingra, James Ward, Asrita Vinothkumar