Atlee High School heads to state finals, with their biggest fan leading the charge

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- History is in the making for the Atlee High School boys' basketball team as they prepare to face Varina in the state championships tonight. While the team is eager for their first-ever shot at the title, one of their most passionate supporters—team manager Hayden Baughan—is just as excited for the big game.

Baughan, who has autism, has been a driving force behind Atlee’s team spirit this season. His journey with the team started in an unexpected way -- after overhearing another school trash-talk Atlee, he made it his mission to support his team all the way to the top. Now, in his first year as team manager, he has become an integral part of the squad’s success.

Two weeks ago, when Atlee defeated Varina in the regional finals, Baughan had the honor of cutting down the net—a longstanding basketball tradition symbolizing victory. Now, he’s confident he’ll be celebrating once again.

“It feels like a souvenir to have Atlee by my side, it’s like a piece of history,” Baughan said. “That was my first time playing an event like that.”

He also had a message for their opponents: "Varina, you better be watching this because when we take you down ... coming down like a full-on fly swatter. And when it goes down, we're going to be on top and you're going to be on bottom."

Baughan's father, Keith, says being part of the team has been life-changing for Hayden.

"For Hayden, to even do it once, it's been something that I never thought he would be able to do," Keith Baughan said. "And to get the opportunity to do this with kids he's grown up with has been wonderful."

Atlee’s journey to the state championship has been nothing short of inspiring, and with the support of fans like Baughan, they’re more motivated than ever.

The state championship game tips off at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 14, at the VCU Siegel Center. The team hopes to bring home their first-ever title -- and maybe, just maybe, give Hayden another chance to cut down the net.