Boys’ Basketball Slips Against Tilton

Boys’ varsity basketball lost to top-rated Tilton on Wednesday, 50-47. This game marks the longest losing streak they’ve had all year: Brooks, Deerfield and now Tilton. Two out of the three were decided by less than five points, making the streak even more heartbreaking.The squad opened up strong with a dominating 15 point lead as they shut down the NEPSAC AA powerhouse and their high-speed guard tandem. Entering halftime, with back-to-back three pointers from lower Perry DeLorenzo and prep Max Kirsch, the team looked unstoppable. But when the half ended, Exeter—despite their strong start—ended with a slim seven-point lead.“Our main goal was to come out with a hot start and we definitely did,” lower JT Thompson said. “The team stuck to the game plan for the entire first half and the scoreboard reflected it.”Once the second half started and the tempo was cranked up a notch, Exeter was pressured into turnovers and sloppy passes, especially with the overaggressive press that was bolstered by the athleticism of the opposing squad. Fans jeered the players, the refs, whoever was shooting the free throw—anyone or anything that could lead to a slip in concentration or a missed shot. Unfortunately, Tilton was not phased, as they missed only one free throw in the entire second half.“The second half we lost our foundation and they sped the tempo of the game up out of our comfort zone,” Thompson said. “We fought hard all game and it was a really tough loss, but we are getting better every day and feel like we’re in a great spot going into the tournament.”Although Big Red did not win, the team still showed great toughness. While faced with a bigger, stronger, faster team, Exeter was able to play smart and score consistently, leaving it all down to a three pointer that lipped out as time expired. This may have been a loss, but it was no blowout.“This game stings,” prep Mitch Kirsch said. “But we are not going to hang our heads. We showed we can hang with the best of them, and I wouldn’t want to be teammates with anyone else. We are a family, and we are going to get back up and learn from this loss.”“It was a tough loss,” lower Max Kirsch said. “However, I’m confident that this group will bounce back. We know where we want to be and we know how to get there. Now we just have to do it.”The next game for Big Red is against another tough team at home: Cushing at 2:30 this Saturday. After that they play Thayer, a team that Exeter earlier beat by 30, before heading into the highly anticipated E/a matchup.