The scoreboard might have indicated a lost game, but members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Special Olympics basketball team hardly felt defeated.

The JBLM Tigers advanced to the state competition held in Wenatchee, March 5 to 7, after bringing home a silver medal in the regional competition.

It was the first time the team had advanced to state level.

Festivities kicked off March 5 with the athletes, ages 8 to 15, getting out of school early so they could travel to Wenatchee in time for opening ceremonies.

An Olympic torch was carried in, and the teams were introduced. A band played, and guest speakers gave opening remarks emphasizing the pride athletes should feel, regardless of their games' outcomes.

"Each and every one of them worked hard to get where they were, so whether they won or lost, it was all about having fun and being fair," said Shanon Mattox, JBLM Tigers coach and Child, Youth and School Services program assistant.

Fairness was more than merely a word the guest speakers spoke about. It was a goal that each team strived to achieve and took seriously throughout the competition. It was also the highlight of Mattox's weekend.

"I experienced one of the most amazing shows of sportsmanship that I have ever seen," Mattox said.

That sportsmanship was mostly visible during a game in which the Tigers were clearly the underdogs.

With only five athletes, no substitutes, and described as a "young, new team," the Tigers played against a more experienced team with older players. It became evident early that their opponent would dominate. However, the opposing coach told his team to back off a little, giving the Tigers a chance to get some points on the board.

"They let us play," Mattox said. "They didn't run circles around us when they easily could have."

At one point, a parent from the opponent's team actually encouraged one of the players to pass the ball to Mattox's son, who was noticeably one of the lesser-abled players.

"You know, at the regional level, he never even had an opportunity to shoot, and here he scored 10 points in the game, because the other team was giving him the ball," Mattox said. "You don't see that anywhere else. It was just very touching."

The Tigers' motivation stayed high largely because of the other team's sportsmanlike conduct. Once they saw that they were getting points, even tying the game at one point, the players pushed themselves as hard as they could.

Although the Tigers competed against three teams and lost all their games, they didn't go home empty-handed. Zackary Burns was awarded the bronze medal for his participation in the individual-skills competition, which took place just before the Tigers played.

"He competed against other wheelchair athletes, but they were all adults, and he is only 13," Mattox said.

Participants in the individual skills competition were judged on three different skills: a bounce pass, timed dribble and shooting from various points on the court.

It's an award Mattox said Zackary worked hard for and deserved after taking home a gold medal at the regional competition.

"We worked on his skills, and then we would practice playing," Mattox said. "He did fantastic."

Mattox said she hopes that the Special Olympics athletes got as much out of their experiences as she did.

"I think it gives them a greater sense of purpose, to be able to work together as a team," Mattox said.

As for next season, her goal is simple.

"I'd like to see more participation so that we can have some substitutes during the game," said Mattox, "and I would love to have the same children come back so that we can work on our skills and improve our game."

Anyone interested in signing up for the upcoming spring Special Olympics teams, swimming and track and field, can contact Mattox at 967-2405. The teams are junior unified teams, which means that players who do not have special needs are also welcome to participate.