Boys’ Basketball Rallies Late, Falls Short to Cushing

After a close-contested win against Tilton last Wednesday, Exeter’s varsity boys’ basketball came up short against the Cushing Penguins last Saturday, losing 73-76. This loss brought Exeter’s three-game winning streak to an end, which had been ongoing since Exeter beat Deerfield the Saturday prior. Last season, Cushing beat Big Red in overtime by three points, so the team knew the game would be a tough fight. “We went in there looking to play as hard as we could,” senior Liam McKersie said.

Initially, the Penguins’ dynamic offense dominated Exeter’s defense. Several minutes in, Cushing’s star point guard Makai Ashton-Langford threw down a put-back dunk off a missed layup, energizing the Penguins as they extended their lead to ten. That, however, was the end of Cushing’s dominance in the first half. Exeter rebounded remarkably well, and for the rest of the first half the game was neck and neck. “That was the strongest half we’ve played all season,” McKersie said.

“[Exeter] played well in the entire game but ultimately came up a bit short.”

Unfortunately, the team did not retain its energy or focus through half-time, and once again Cushing began to pull away with the lead. Yet, in a last-minute rally, Exeter regained control. With a chance to tie the game with two seconds to go, post-graduate Kyle Daugherty put up a fadeaway three. He missed just short, but Big Red had nonetheless played one of its best games all year. As McKersie said, “[Exeter] played well in the entire game but ultimately came up a bit short.”

The loss, as a whole, can be attributed to the team’s failure to play consistently, according to upper Max Kirsch. “I think it comes down to being more consistent on both ends,” Kirsch said. However he believes that “for the most part, we are really playing a good brand of basketball.”

McKersie is also concerned about the consistency of the team’s performance. He believes that Exeter would have won if they had maintained their focus for the entire game and never allowed Cushing to gain a big lead. “We just need to put a full 32-minute game together,” he said.

Of course, the team remains hopeful about their chances for a playoff run in the New England Championships. Still, they recognize that the title is far from being theirs. As the defending champs, Exeter has a target on their heads heading into the playoffs. Though their record may not reflect it, Big Red has shown, especially in recent contests against some of New England’s top teams, how difficult they are to beat. Because of their toughness, the team is still considered a top contender going into the tournament.

Exeter will face off against the 4-13 Phillips Andover Academy this Saturday at 6:15 in Love Gym. Big Red has already beat them once this season, crushing Andover 73-35.