Boys’ Basketball Wins Big at Nobles

Last Saturday, boys’ basketball extended their multiseason winning streak to eight games with their win at Noble and Greenough Academy with a final score of 54- 37. After a resounding win of 94 – 10 the week before at Hebron Academy the team entered this game with a winning spirit which some players believe led them to their victory.During the first half, the boys established a strong lead with their relentless defense and intensity. Evan Crawford ‘15 said that the team came into the game with “a really great mindset which allowed us to open the game with a huge lead.” Exeter had a lot of energy that “forced us to play our best.”With this mindset the team was able to work together to push their lead into the double digits.

At the end of the this half, upper James Foye twisted his ankle making him unavailable to play in the second half. His injury was minor, however, Foye will be able to play in the coming games.During the second half the team lost some of their intensity, which was reflected in the score. Noble and Greenough fought hard and drove to the basket, which brought the game back to only a twelve point difference.“In the second half, we started off a little stagnant and almost let Noble back into the game,” Hugh O’Neil ‘15 said. However, about half way through the half, coach Jay Tilton called a timeout to regroup and assess what needed to be done to keep their lead. Tilton sent a full line of substitutes into the game. The refreshed set of players were able to hang on to a 17 point lead until the end of the game.

Overall, the team was proud of their performance and relentlessness but they want to keep the intensity high throughout.O’Neil said Exeter’s defense was extremely “high energy and Nobles couldn't handle the pressure we were providing, especially early on in the game.” The boys also shot a lot of successful three-pointers which helped keep their lead up.Many players on the team stepped up to fulfill multiple necessary roles on the court, specifically upper Perry DeLorenzo. “I thought [DeLorenzo] really was able to bring our team together by doing all the work that can go unnoticed, but his presence was really felt,” Crawford said.

Defensively, the team is doing strategic work with different formations to prevent penetration down the middle of the court. As the season progresses, however, the team believes that they will be able to improve even more as their endurance and team dynamic strengthens.Next Saturday, the boys’ basketball team will be facing Kimball Union Academy in which they hope to improve their individual and team skills. As a team, they hope to extend their winning streak and see it into the division championships.