The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School was honored as a Special Olympics National Banner School on Thursday, just before a Unified basketball game against Falmouth.

“For a long time Martha’s Vineyard has shown the inclusive qualities of leadership and community engagement,” said Kathy Lutz, sports manager of Unified. “That is why they were given national banner status.”

Unified Sports was launched with the Special Olympics to have kids with learning disabilities join other high school participants and compete as a team on the varsity level. A Unified basketball team was formed on the Vineyard lat year. Since then it has grown to include Unified track and bocce teams.

“Playing for your school,” said athletic director Mark McCarthy. “That’s a big deal.”

Unified schools receiving national banner recognition have demonstrated commitment and inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. Ms. Lutz said the Vineyard high school passed with flying colors. A total of 143 teams nationally have been awarded national banner status, 16 of them in Massachusetts.

Ms. Lutz said it isn’t as much about the award as cheering on the kids in the Unified program.

On Thursday that wasn’t hard, with a stadium full of fans erupting in excitement when a basket was scored on either end of the court.

“Look at that,” Mr. McCarthy said. “This is the support the kids get.”

The Falmouth Clippers put up a strong fight against the Vineyarders, each team holding the other to a two-point lead that bounced back and forth on the scoreboard.

As the final seconds approached, forward Taylor Hughes drove to the basket and put one in with seconds remaining on the buzzer, vaulting the Vineyard to a 54-52 win.