The Enumclaw Thunder basketball team recently finished fourth at the Washington state Special Olympics tournament in Wenatchee.

Thunder athletes joined 1,5000 other Special Olympic team members and unified partners during the opening ceremonies, where they paraded around the arena with their team banners and lit the torch.

The event also drew 300 coaches, 700 volunteers and 2,500 family members and friends.

Coach Ryan Picinich said the Thunder’s opener with Edmonds stood out.

“I thought this was our best game of the year, especially the first half,” Picinich said. “It always makes a difference when you make difficult shots, and we did, but we were also in good position on offense and defense for a significant part of this game.

“This team makes the game fun because they are joyful,” he continued. “I think they enjoy being together and they want to develop their skills. That is a solid foundation for future Special Olympics basketball.”

With the basketball season complete, athletes are hitting the ground running with soccer.

Bitten by the competitive bug, Enumclaw’s Special Olympic teams are ready to bring the state titles home to Enumclaw with 26 athletes and unified/mentors registered, making up three teams – a unified team, an all-athlete team and a skills squad.