Basketball players walk off court to defend Kenosha cheerleader with Down Syndrome being targeted by bullies

Editor's Note: The response to this story has been so strong that TODAY'S TMJ4 sent Michele Fiore to talk to the players who stood up for Desiree. You can see her follow-up here.

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KENOSHA -- A student being bullied at a Lincoln Middle School basketball game caught the attention of the basketball players. They walked off the court to come to defend her. 

This is where it all happened for Desiree Andrews.  As she was being bullied from the stands, a few boys on the team said enough's enough, and that's where this bullying situation turned her life around.

Desiree Andrews no longer walks to class alone.  Students have been drawn to her after a situation that could have taken away this pretty smile.

"The kids in the audience were picking on Dee, So we all stepped forward," said Chase Vazquez, Lincoln Middle School basketball player.

Andrews has Down syndrome.  These three boys were in the middle of a game when they heard something upsetting directed at one of their cheerleaders, a girl who dances to her own beat.

"So when I heard they were talking about her like, it kind of like made me mad," said Miles Rodriguez, Lincoln Middle School basketball player.

Basketball players stepped to action, walked off the court, and told the bully to stop.

"It's not fair when other people get treated wrong because we're all the same. We're all created the same. God made us the same way," said Scooter Terrien, Lincoln Middle School basketball player.

Dee and the boys are now eighth graders and last night, played their last game in the gymnasium that they have affectionately dedicated to their friend.

We asked Desiree Andrews: "Are they calling it something special?"

"Yea," she said.

"What is it?" we asked.

"Dee's House," she said.

"Dee's House? How's that make you feel?" we asked.

"Good," she said.

The athletic director tells us the name has stuck and he's planning to make a banner officially calling the gym "Dee's House."

We asked, "What did your family think?"

Andrews said, "It was sweet, kind, awesome, amazing."

"Sweet, awesome, kind and amazing?" we echoed.

"Yea!" she said.

Desiree's next step is high school. As far as her future goes, she says she wants to be famous.  We think she's already famous right here in Kenosha.

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