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Photo inserts courtesy of Westwood Public Schools. The community is invited to watch a basketball game where Westwood High School students compete against members of Westwood Police Department on Tuesday evening, October 6, 2026.
10-05-2026 4:37pm
WHS Unified Basketball to Play Westwood Police in Community Matchup
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The community is invited to “Pack The Den” as Westwood High School’s Unified Basketball takes on members of the Westwood Police Department in the Westwood High School gymnasium on Tuesday, October 6, at 6:00 p.m.
The student-versus-police department matchup is in large part the result of the efforts of Westwood High School Senior Ava Meredith, who reached out to the police department and Unified Basketball Coach Virginia Booth.
“Ava has really spearheaded this whole thing,” said Coach Booth, who along with coaching the Unified team is also a special education teacher at the high school. “She got in touch with the police department. . . planned the halftime show. . .” Coach Booth said, ticking off a list of tasks the high school senior has accomplished in making the event a reality.
Ava said she got the idea for the basketball game after learning about an annual match in Dedham between students and the Dedham Police Department. Her father’s friend has a nephew who “loves this game against the police,” she said, which piqued her interest. “I thought, why not?”
The police department is already hoping this matchup may become a yearly event that families and the community can enjoy, according to Westwood Police Sergeant Christopher Elcock. He said about 10 officers have signed up to play.
“It’s just a good, old-fashioned, community event,” he said.
“We’re grateful to anyone who shows up,” said Coach Booth.
The game is free and open to the public. The National Anthem is scheduled for 5:50 p.m., and tip-off is at 6:00 p.m. It will consist of two 20-minute halves, with substitutions every 4 minutes. Westwood High School Cheer will perform during the halftime. They were invited by Ava after members of that team had earlier expressed an interest in an opportunity to participate in a Unified Sports game. Tuesday’s basketball game will be a good opportunity, said Ava.
Also planned for halftime is an appearance by Denise Larrabee from Special Olympics, along with a fun competition for the chance to win a gift card.
“I’m really excited,” said Ava. “I’m also a little nervous.” Ava said that before she joins the game as a player, she will need to ensure that there is adequate seating, that volleyball nets are put away, and that announcers have their microphones.
Ava notes that WHS has a club, The Den, which supports high school sports. Den members and other students have been encouraged to wear jerseys of any kind to show team spirit and unity.
The Unified Sports program was brought to WHS through Special Olympics Unified Sports, said Coach Booth. The sports program promotes social inclusion by bringing together both athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, placing them on the same team.
Ava began playing with the WHS Unified Basketball team last year. It was also last year that Coach Booth recommended Ava for a spot on the Special Olympics Youth Leadership Council.
Unified Sports at Westwood High School is open to any student at the high school. Sign-ups happen at the same time as opportunities for other sports are offered, said Ava. In the fall, Unified Sports organizes basketball at WHS. In the spring, interested students can sign up for Unified Track, she said.
Ava hopes that Tuesday night’s game may be the start of a tradition for Westwood High School, and possibly help grow Unified Sports in the Westwood community.
“I just think that they’re really fun and they bring everyone together,” she said.
Thanks to Ava Meredith, Sergeant Christopher Elcock, and Virginia Booth for sharing their news with Westwood Minute.
