It came down to the final buzzer.

Rogers High School’s unified basketball team held off visiting Portsmouth High School 38-36 on Monday evening at Rogers High School in a back-and-forth contest that had fans on their feet throughout.

The Vikings, coached by Kristin B., never let the Patriots get comfortable, but Portsmouth made them earn every basket. The two teams traded buckets all night, with the margin rarely stretching beyond a few possessions.

Darious Myers was the difference-maker for Rogers, pouring in a game-high 18 points to pace the Vikings. Kalvin Estevez chipped in 12 points, while Ca’ron Hill added 8 in support.

Portsmouth, coached by Donna Ricci, refused to go quietly. Alex Silva and Cameron Tucker each tallied 7 points for the Patriots, with Ben Wicks contributing 6 in a losing effort.

The two-point final margin reflected just how competitive the afternoon was — a testament to both programs and the spirit of unified athletics.

Photo gallery by Justin Walker.

Justin Walker is a Newport County native who specializes in sports, portraits, weddings and events as a freelance photographer around New England. Justin has over a decade of experience starting in college covering high profile events, collegiate and professional sports in Washington, D.C. His photojournalism and freelance work can be seen in various local and national publications. Check out his work at justinlwalkerphotography.com!