CAMDEN — The Preble County Cougars Special Olympics basketball team played one of its several slated exhibition games at halftime of the varsity game at Preble Shawnee High School on Friday, Jan. 8.

The Cougars play between eight and 14 games a season, plus exhibition games like last Fridays, which are played during halftime of local high school games.

“They get a lot of support from the high school kids and from the other spectators at the high school games,” Cougars Coach Amanda Spitler said last year. “That’s always a blast. Plus, now that we have some high school kids in the program, when they get to play during halftime at their high school, it’s always a crowd pleaser.”

The Cougars work hard all season and community support means a lot to them, so playing during half time of varsity match-ups gives the team a chance at an audience of spectators they don’t always have at their own Special Olympics games.

Every March, an annual Special Olympics fundraiser pits the Preble County Cougars Special Olympics basketball athletes against a team of “celebrities” from Preble County known as the Generals.

Details regarding the 2016 Cougar-General match-up were unavailable at press time.

Preble County’s Special Olympics program also includes track and field and a softball team.

For more information, contact Special Olympics Coordinator Corey Mangan at 456-5891 ext. 124.

The Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/01/web1_cougars1.jpgThe Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

The Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/01/web1_cougars2.jpgThe Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

The Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/01/web1_cougars3.jpgThe Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

The Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/01/web1_cougars4.jpgThe Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

The Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/01/web1_cougars5.jpgThe Preble County Cougars basketball team took the court at half time of Preble Shawnee’s varsity game on Friday, Jan. 8, and played one of several exhibition games they put on each year. The Cougars’ matches are always a crowd pleaser, and the audience always supports and cheers on the Special Olympics athletes.