High School basketball player with Down syndrome plays in final season

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (KTRK) -- An Iowa mother got more than she ever hoped for when her daughter with Down syndrome joined her high school's basketball team.

Ashlie Hite asked her mom to play basketball at Abraham Lincoln High School. Her mom says she had reservations about her daughter playing.

"We live in a society where not everyone is accepted at all times, and so your biggest fear is...I was going to have problems with her at school."

She called the coach to make sure Ashlie could be on the team.

Ashlie's mom says her teammates went out of their way to make sure she was a part of their team.

"Our girls -- obviously, you know -- get Ashlie the ball, but it's so neat to see these other communities step up," Head Coach Chad Schaa said.

This story first appeared on KETV-Omaha.