Cameron girl with Down syndrome makes shot during dream basketball game

CAMERON, Texas (KWTX) - A local middle school gym erupted in cheers on both sides of the stands as an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome got into a game and scored some buckets.

^{6th grader Adelyn Olivarez, of Cameron, made the shot in a game between Cameron Junior High’s combined 7th and 8th grade B teams and the Rogers Eagles in Cameron.}

^{“It was written all over her face how much this meant to her,” Adelyn’s mom,} Nicky Beard ^{said. “It also meant so much to her father and me. I had a very hard time holding my tears back.”}

Cameron Head Coach Kausion Wells coached Adelyn in Little Dribblers a few years ago and knew how much the young girl loved basketball.

“I was her Little Dribblers coach in 2022, and I’ll never forget that moment she made her first basket,” Coach Wells said. “She embraced that moment with her parents for two minutes. She forgot the basketball game was even going on.”

A few weeks ago, Adelyn stopped Coach Wells in the hallway and asked her if she could play in a school game.

“I knew I had to see what I could do to have that dream come true for her,” Wells said.

Wells said the school administration immediately said “yes” and her players couldn’t wait to assist.

Wells got Adelyn a white and maroon jersey, and Adelyn hit the court with her new teammates.

Adelyn scored four points, and the crowd went wild.

“When she checked into the game, the crowd exploded, and everyone started cheering,” Wells said. “The Rogers players, the fans -- they showed great sportsmanship toward Addy. They welcomed her on the court. She struggled to get the ball in the goal, but I gave her a little boost from behind and when she scored, she jumped up. She was so excited. Everyone started giving her high gives, giving her hugs.”

Cameron Yoe players say having Adelyn on the court was a moment they’ll never forget.

“I enjoyed seeing Adelyn out there and I was very happy to see her feel special and have her moment,” said eighth grader Kate Kopriva.

Seventh graders also shared in the sentiment.

“I feel like it was a great experience for Adelyn to finally be a part of the Cameron Yoe athletics sisterhood,” said Kyndal Pinchback.

Coach Wells said she knows many life lessons were learned on the court that the girls will take off it.

" I believe the life lesson I can say I taught my students was special needs might act differently but they deserve the same respect, the love and opportunity as anyone else," Wells said. “Adelyn is now one of us.”

The Lady Yoe Basketball Team presented Adelyn with a sign they each autographed and a poster that recognized her four points in the game.

They also gave Adelyn a hand-painted basketball with the verse Philippians 4:13 on it which says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.