Boys’ Basketball Triumphs Over The Hill School
Exeter boys’ basketball defeated the Hill School in a close game at Babson College, ending with a score of 59 to 55. This marks their first win of the season, following another close match against Kimball Union Academy.
The Hill School was a particularly impressive rival, with a record of four victories out of the six games they had played before competing with Exeter. However, post-graduate Jacob Grandison described the win as expected, as the team had practiced extensively in the days leading up to the game. “I think we prepared for the game really well,” Grandison explained. “We had a really good practice the day before.” Upper Brian Zhao concurred with Grandison, emphasizing the energy that the team created from the moment they stepped onto the court.
The players had to work hard to defeat the Hill School, particularly because of their disadvantage in height. Grandison elaborated on the difficulty of overcoming two of the taller players, whom he estimated to be around 6’8” and 7’0”. However, Exeter was able to “hold their own,” despite being of shorter stature. Zhao also highlighted the height difference, citing it as an impressive feat to overcome. “Being an undersized team in the ultra-competitive NEPSAC, we fought their size down low,” he said.
Zhao commented on the team’s ability to come back and score during the last five minutes of the game. “We were down by 11,” he said. “We showed the perseverance and the will to win on this team.” Grandison was especially proud of Exeter’s competitive drive towards the end of the fourth period. He cited their capacity to make baskets as crucial to turning the game around. “We made our shots,” he said. “We got stopped later in the game.”
"We showed the perseverance and the will to win on this team.”
With regards to the future, Grandison hopes that the team will be able to improve their transition points. He explained that the players are more than capable of putting the ball on the floor, but need to work on uninterrupted scoring. “If we can become a team that executes in the half court and on fast breaks, we will be unstoppable,” he said.
Zhao aspires for the team to be more consistent with their performance, especially after a one-point loss against Kimball Union Academy prior to the game at Babson. “I think our physicality is a big focus,” he said. “We gave up some key offensive rebounds.” He continued to stress the importance of working on becoming an elite defensive team in order to bring home the NEPSAC Class A championship.
With a strong start to the season, the team hopes to continue with their winning ways. This weekend they will face tough competition in the Class A Winter Classic. Exeter is one of the event venues so the team will be playing at home. Their first game will be against Suffield Academy at 6:00pm. On the next day, the boys have a doubleheader verse Brunswick and Williston. The team hopes to have a solid week of practice and go undefeated in the tournament.