Boys’ B-Ball Triumphs
Ranked number one in the state of New Hampshire, the boys’ varsity basketball team has continued to win key games against some of the toughest competition in their league. On Saturday, Feb. 11, boys’ varsity basketball crushed Deerfield Academy with a staggering defeat of 63-37.
Senior and co-captain Mitchell Kirsch found that although the opposing players were “tough” and “competitive,” Exeter managed to undermine Deerfield’s skillset by pushing themselves offensively. He also cited the practices beforehand, which prepared the team to finish through with contact in the game, as a key tool for their win. Kirsch found that their persistence paired with practice wore out the opponents easily. “In the first half, we progressed through our offense,” Kirsch explained. “I think the result of that was a tired Deerfield in the second half, because they struggled guarding the same plays we ran in the first half.”
Kirsch highlighted lower Alex Swett’s contributons as critical to the game. “Alex took a big charge in the second half that showed great commitment to the values of Exeter basketball,” Kirsch said. “That play really sparked us.” Upper Brian Zhao also praised Swett’s role during the second half. “[He] changed the momentum for the rest of the game.” Upper Emmett Shell recognized Swett as well, saying he executed “one of our biggest plays of the year.”
Post-graduate Jacob Grandison noted that many bench players got a chance to play during the game. He also commented on the general improvement of the team towards the end of the first half. “We just needed to find our rhythm,” Grandison said.
Shell also found that with the second half, Exeter began to return to the basics of the game. “We cut hard, spaced the floor, and played some great defense,” he said. “We just got back to playing basketball the way we need to play it.”
Most members of the team felt that while the defeat came easily during the last two quarters, Deerfield put up a fight. “They’re scrappy and they play very hard,” Shell explained. “It was nice to get a win against a sneaky team.” Zhao echoed these sentiments, describing Deerfield as pragmatic and determined.
Big Red will face Cushing Academy on Feb. 18, followed by a match against Thayer Academy on Feb. 22. Kirsch commented on his hopes for the future, emphasizing that Exeter has to keep up its rigid determination to win while focusing on the details. “We are at the point in the season where the little things will make the biggest differences,” he said. “We just need to continue to tie loose ends and we will be in good shape.”