Johnson City and six other Section IV schools are making sure everyone gets a chance to play.

They will participate in the Unified Sports Program, where athletes with and without disabilities join forces on one team.

The Wildcats held their first basketball game against Corning Thursday. The goal of Unified Sports Program is to create relationships among the students, promote youth leadership, advocacy and school engagement.

"The way that they work together on the floor and they work for each other, not just for themselves. Maybe it's a lesson for all of our high school athletic teams should take as a lesson, said Corning Head Coach, Claude Treusdell."

Every player is able to participate in the game, which is treated as a normal sporting event. It's the first season Section IV is participating in the program.

"I mean it probably should have happened a long time ago, but I'm just so happy it's happening now and that I can be a part of it. A lot of these kids would normally never be on a regular team, and now they're getting an opportunity to play basketball, said Johnson City Head Coach Andre Hankey."

Other teams participating include Ithaca, Horseheads, Union-Endicott, Elmira, and Owego.