Christmas was not a good day for Sullivan Rice, but the Boothbay Region High School varsity boys basketball team rallied to help bring some semblance of joy into the life of the 11-year-old.

Sullivan is the son of Matthew Rice and the stepson of Kate Rice of Boothbay Harbor, who lost their home to a fire on Christmas Day night. Firefighters were only able to recover a few clothing items that night; everything else was destroyed. No one was hurt in the fire and at the time of the tragedy, Sullivan was at his mother’s home in Boothbay Harbor.

Sullivan is also the grandson of the basketball team's assistant coach Dennis Rice.

"I told these boys that they turned into young men this week," said Dennis Rice. "What they did reflected what this community is all about. Helping someone in need."

Team members pooled their money and shopped for clothing for Sullivan, a "gym rat" they have gotten to know well during their practices, games and open gym at the YMCA.

Before practice on Wednesday morning, Dec. 31, team members presented several wrapped gifts to Sullivan.

The 11-year-old, who will turn 12 in February, was all smiles as he opened the gifts on the gym floor with the team surrounding him. After he opened each gift, he thanked the players.

In the end, he had a pile of T-shirts and shorts, socks and a pair of sneakers in front of him. He then went around the center circle and shook hands with each player, who were all sporting smiles during the presentation.

To top it off, Coach I.J. Pinkham agreed to make Sullivan an honorary member of the 2014-2015 boys varsity basketball team.