Weekly Athletics Update

2/19/2020

Within the span of a short three week window the curtain on the 2020 Winter Athletic season will be drawn. As we head close to NEPSAC tournament time (indeed our Class A Wrestling Tournament as well as our Class C Ski Championships have already played out) it is no surprise to once again see multiple WA teams vying for high tournament seeds.

The girls’ basketball team seems to be firing on all cylinders as it heads down the homestretch with a #1 AA seed clearly in their sights. Rolling along with a 14-3 overall record the team has combined a nice balance on both sides of the ball as it prepares to defend its back to back title runs. Wednesday and Saturday home contests against St. Andrew’s and New Hampton School respectively will be solid barometers for what is to come in early March. Saturday’s 20-point road win over Exeter was the lone contest of the week.
Our girls’ ice hockey team has been consistent throughout (currently fashioning a nifty 14-5-2 overall record) as they sprint towards the finish line. A 2-0-1 week saw the Hilltoppers roll past Pingree, edge the Holderness School (2-1) and salvage a tie against the Rivers School. Senior netminder Kelsey Czerniawski had 28 saves in Wednesday’s 3-3 tie while senior sniper, Ciara Wall continues to lead the scoring parade.
Boys’ basketball remains in the top half of the 8 team Class AA play-off hunt by virtue of impressive road wins over Exeter (65-63) and Cheshire Academy (79-77). Senior Quest Harris led the victory at Cheshire (29 points) while fellow senior Josh Ogundele poured in 19 points in the lone Hilltopper setback of the week to league foe Wilbraham & Monson. Wednesday’s St. Andrew’s game (5:00 pm on Rowe Court) looms large for the Hilltoppers.
The ski team traveled north on Tuesday to participate in the NE Class C races at Shawnee Peak and the girls’ team placed 6^th overall with senior Gabby Gavala our top performer. The future appears bright as 8^th grader, Kayzie Salmon finished 10^th out of 48 racers in the Slalom event.
Boys’ ice hockey continues to pile up Holt Conference points as it pushed past league foe, Portsmouth Abbey by a 5-3 count, however, an early 2-goal lead against NMH disappeared quickly en route to a home 7-5 setback. Groton will provide the opposition on Monday as the Hilltoppers head back on the road.
Senior captain Samantha Scott traveled to Hartford, CT on Saturday to participate in the NEISWA. An early shoulder injury sustained in an opening match curtailed Samantha’s ability to advance and we remain hopeful that her condition will improve enough to allow her to compete in the nationals at Lehigh University.
Varsity 2 basketball dropped a pair of contests despite an impressive individual week from senior Michael Harvey (average 21 points per outing). A rematch with the Winchendon School on Wednesday has the team on high alert!
The swim team had two meets during the week, losing the 1^st to the Winsor School but bouncing back in good fashion to push past Marianapolis Prep on Saturday.
Freshman basketball lost a close one to Auburn High School (2^nd time this season the team has suffered a close loss to the Dandies).
JV boys’ basketball lost to Exeter on the road by a 53-37 count on Wednesday then battled NMH on Saturday before falling in the 2^nd half.
JV girls’ basketball almost pulled out a win as they ventured to Phillips Exeter on Saturday (48-45) and they will host St. Andrew’s on Wednesday at 3:00 pm.

Co-Athletes of the Week:

Michael Harvey ’20 – V2 Boys’ Basketball

Kyla Jones ’20 – GV Basketball

Back