Prince Edward County High School’s Medford basketball team recently won the Heartland Conference championship.

Five local schools’ basketball players, cheerleaders, parents, teachers, coaches, students and staff converged into the gymnasium at Fluvanna County High School.

Excitement filled the air as it was finals day, the championship for the Heartland Conference of the Medford Basketball League. 

Prince Edward won the championship game versus Appomattox County High School with a score of 56-50. Buckingham County High School had been the reigning champion in the league since its inception in 2014, but graciously returned the league trophy to this year’s championship team.

Players from Appomattox, Buckingham, Fluvanna and Prince Edward County high schools have participated in the league formed in 2014 by Sandee Draper, special education teacher at Prince Edward County High School. 

Prince Edward had already participated in the Chesterfield division of the Medford League for four years prior. The league in Chesterfield became very large, so Draper decided that a league needed to be started in our area, she said.

“Another big hit on away game days is going out to a local restaurant to eat after the games,” said Draper. “Which also exposes our students to very needed life skills within their communities, ordering their own meals, paying for them and just getting out in the community. Hopefully more school districts in the area will be able to participate in the league.”

The players are all students identified with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities or developmental disabilities. The league gives a chance to participate in a team sport. 

Prince Edward’s team is coached by Jason Holman and Sandee Draper, with the Medford Cheerleaders being coached by Shakema Wilson.