The Fulton Special Olympics Basketball team is preparing for the tournament with help from its 18-year old award-winning coach.

Paige Baysinger never imagined it. How one checked-off box in an informational flyer changed her life. And the impact the Fulton High School senior has had on countless lives. She's brought out the best in her team of over 20 Special Olympics Athletes.

Volunteer and parent Debbie Luckenbill says, "She's wonderful at it. The guys love her -- all of them love her. And she's so good. In fact I nominated her for Central Area Coach of the Year and she got it. She's [also] up for Missouri Coach of the Year."

The players say she helps everyone compete -- like in a recent shootout at Fulton High School -- in unique ways.

Special Olympics Athlete Ed Robins says, "When you get the adrenalin pumping, real, I'm keeping the battle, thrill of being around, we have a lot of enthusiasm in it, just real exciting."

Special Olympics Athlete Christy Mosher says, "With me, I've had a knee and a hip replacement so it's been a real achievement for me to come back and just play. Since I've been in the Special Olympics I've made a lot of friends, dear friends, that will never replace anything. Besides teamwork and partnership."

Special Olympics Athlete Brant Lorton says the Special Olympics teach, "Sportsmanship and stuff. Being nice to other people."

Baysinger even helped one player develop his own basketball personality, "The Fox".

"3 pointers, Hook Shots, I can tell, I can tell all about 'The Fox' and he's coming out at the state tournament," says Special Olympics Athlete Joey Garrard. "At state, 'The Fox' is coming in the house."

Baysinger's assembled a team of athletes from all age ranges. The youngest athlete in unified play in Missouri is 8 years old, and plays for Baysinger's team.

Baysinger says, "These guys are awesome. There's no one more genuine in the world than these guys. You know, I'll have the worst day in the world and I'll come here and everything will be erased."

She says she had no idea she was even up for a coaching award. "I didn't even know there was such a thing," Baysinger said.

"It's a rush. I mean, just being out there, playing with all the big boys, just run up and down and show our skills," says Mosher.

And smiles for everyone as the team -- already with 2 silver medal finishes -- aims for the gold.