The Boys Red basketball team opened the new year with a game against St. Mel on Jan. 9. The team put up a strong effort, but ultimately lost the match, falling 34-28.
In the first half of the game, the Red team was down by 13 points to their opponents, leaving a wide margin after the first two quarters. Under pressure to close this gap, the team made significant improvement the rest of the game, seen through their strong defense and passing. Every player contributed by taking shots, setting up plays and supporting one another on the court. Players demonstrated resilience and strong teamwork until the very end.
Middle School Boys Basketball Coach Nick Firestone ’11 said that he’s proud of the hard work his players have been putting in despite having limited prior experience.
“I’m proud of how willing the guys have been to work hard and improve,” Firestone said. “Not all of them have a lot of basketball experience or play club basketball, but they’re committed to putting in effort, playing scrappy defense and competing to win.”
Firestone said that he has been very pleased with his team’s capability to learn and grow, and how everyone’s game has been developing considerably throughout the season.
“The kids have grown a lot in terms of execution and understanding the offense,” Firestone said. “They have learned the overall concept of spacing, how to manipulate defense and really grasping the idea of pressuring hard without fouling. Fundamentally, the team has all improved in these aspects. It’s been a really good team effort. Everybody has been improving and I don’t think I would single an individual player out.”
#34 Noah Kim ’30 said he appreciated the support he got from his team during the game and throughout the season.
“Having my teammates cheer me on and back me up made a big difference,” Kim said. “Their encouragement helped me stay motivated, stay calm under pressure, and perform better overall. I really just enjoyed playing and having fun with my friends.”
