Blue Devil Unified Basketball Suits Up

Huntington High School’s co-ed varsity Unified basketball team is prepping for the season. Eight practices and eight games have been scheduled. Finley physical education teacher Jordan Ioviero is returning as the team’s head coach.

Unified basketball features Special Olympians paired with general education students who serve as teammates and assistants on the co-ed rosters. About three dozen Suffolk high schools will be fielding teams this year.

Upcoming practices are scheduled for Monday, March 25, Wednesday, March 27, Tuesday, April 2, Wednesday, April 3, Friday, April 5, Monday, April 8, Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12. Practices will run from 3:15-4:15 p.m. either on the outdoor courts adjacent to the gym or indoors when the facility is available. Players need a minimum of six practices to participate in a game.

Games are scheduled with John H. Glenn (April 15), Commack (April 17), Walt Whitman (April 30), Half Hollow Hills East (May 3), Kings Park (May 6), Northport (May 9), Half Hollow Hills West (May 15) and John H. Glenn (May 20).

There’s still time to participate. Send a message to Coach Ioviero at jioviero@hufsd.edu. “We would like to get as many students to participate as we can,” Coach Ioviero said. “If they play a spring sport they are still allowed to help in practice and be on the team, but they cannot play in games. “

Students should sign-up to participate on the team in the nurse’s office. Every student needs to get re-qualified by the school nurse prior to each sport season. The nurse can only clear a student-athlete who has the following forms on file:

1. Required NYS Health Examination Form (click for link)

Physical exams can be performed by private doctor or school doctor and are valid for one year.

2. Interval Health History for Sports Participation (English/Spanish) (click for link)

A new form is required for each season; must be completed by parent/guardian, signed in ink and dated within 30 days of the start of the season.

School nurse Linda Amarante can be reached at 631.673.2146 or lamarante@hufsd.edu.

A parent consent form for athletes (English/Spanish) (click for link) should be handed to the coach prior to practicing.

Questions: Contact athletic director Jim Hoops at jhoops@hufsd.edu or call the athletic office at 631.673.2018.

A modification of the previous rules will now allow for Huntington High School boys and girls JV and varsity basketball players to be on the team and facilitate action during practices and games.