Boys' Basketball Falls Short, Missing Two Starting Players

WALLINGFORD, CT – Boys’ varsity basketball picked up another loss on Saturday with a 32-44 beating by Choate Rosemary Hall’s dominating squad. After a grueling three-hour bus ride, Exeter fans were left with a bitter taste in their mouth after a disappointing performance from the now 6-4 team.Exeter struggled, starting off in a nine point hole after Choate knocked down a pair of threes and an unanswered jump shot to begin the game. Coincidentally, nine points were also the amount that Exeter would score in the first half. Big Red was simply unable to get the offense rolling, scoring only two field goals.“Choate came out and played well, and we let their pace dictate how we play,” senior Will Richardson said. “They were a very physical team and it took us a little bit longer to adjust to that style of play.”“We couldn’t make shots,” senior J.D. Slajchert said. “We couldn’t get into our offense because Choate sped us up too much.”However, there was more to it than just bad bounces and a little bit of roughhousing. Two out of the three seniors, J.D. Slajchert and Jeb Helmers, were sidelined with injuries, leaving Exeter with only nine men to go into battle with. Although the team badly missed Slajchert and Helmers, their absence gave lowerclassmen the chance to fill the holes and get game experience against a very good Choate team. Three lowerclassmen started Saturday and they certainly showed a great deal of potential, as the lowerclassmen scored 60% of the team’s overall points.“It hurts to have two guys out, but we’re a team, so that means that everyone has to be able to step up. Fortunately, they’re both recovering quickly and will be back soon,” said Richardson. “Perry [DeLorenzo] filled in for J.D.’s starting role and hit some big shots, coming out of the gates in the second half to help make it a close game.”Lowerclassmen aside, the numbers tell a tale of too little, too late. While there were almost triple the points scored in the second half compared to the first, the Choate offense continued to spread the Exeter defense and laser in long-range shots, keeping the game just out of reach.Exeter’s next game is against New Hampton School on Friday, January 17th. It’s an away game, but Exeter is confident that they can bounce back and take home a W. Although New Hampton is a very tough team, Helmers’ and Slajchert's return to the court will surely add a spark to the team’s fire and make Saturday’s game an exciting match.