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Special needs teen sinks game ending 3-pointer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Robert Lewis has only played one basketball game in a Franklin Road Academy jersey, yet he will finish this season as the Panthers' most accurate 3-point shooter.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Robert Lewis has only played one basketball game in a Franklin Road Academy jersey, yet he will finish this season as the Panthers’ most accurate 3-point shooter.

Lewis is a member of the Heart to Heart program at FRA where students with Down syndrome have been integrated into the classroom. He has been the boys basketball team manager for the past three years and was given the chance to play Friday as FRA hosted University School of Nashville on senior night.

He made the most of the opportunity.

Panthers' coach John Pierce put Lewis in late in the fourth quarter, and Lewis immediately air-balled a 3-point attempt, but on the next possession, he hit a 3-pointer from the same spot with just five seconds remaining.

“It was one of the biggest moments that I’ve ever seen or been a part of,” Pierce said. “Robert is such a big part of our school, and everyone loves Robert and Robert loves everyone, so to see him get to get on the court and do something like that was pretty exciting for everyone.”

FRA won 64-47 with Lewis’ shot accounting for the final points.

"When the ball was in the air I thought I was going to miss or make, I didn’t know which, but when it went down I was so happy that I made it," Lewis said. "I just loved that moment right there."

While it was Robert who hit the shot, the night was special for the entire Lewis family, including the player guarding Robert, his younger brother and a junior at USN, Matthew.

"I was really happy that he was in the game when I made that shot," Robert said.

“It was kind of a classy thing for USN to do,” Pierce said. “When they saw Robert going into the game, they put his brother in so Matthew was actually guarding Robert the last few possessions and when he hit the shot.”

For Robert's mother, Judy Lewis, the moment was one she will never forget.

"When Robert got put in the game and (USN) coach Mike Jones put Matthew in the game at the same moment, I was really moved," she said. "For these very close brothers to be able to share that moment was priceless." It was just sheer joy."

It was also one she wasn't expecting.

"We were so excited about Robert’s senior night game and just that he was going to get to dress out," she said. "For him, just getting to dress out with his team was so exciting."

While FRA fans stormed the court and USN fans stood and cheered from the bleachers, Lewis’ teammates and friends began to celebrate before lifting Lewis onto their shoulders.

"I was so happy when they picked me up," Robert said. "From my scene when I got picked up, every person I could see had tears of joy in their eyes and I love that moment. I love FRA. I just love that school so much."

The celebration continued through the weekend.

“They were completely losing their minds,” Pierce said. “I think, for the most part, our team is still kind of on cloud nine about it. It’s been a lot of fun for us to see the craziness that has happened.”

Since Lewis’ shot Friday, several local and national media outlets have picked up and shown the video.

“I think the video has been on ESPN, 'Good Morning America' and Fox News,” Pierce said. “It’s been all over.”

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