As the snow starts to melt, the weather isn’t the only thing that’s heating up. With winter sports teams at the tail end of their seasons, one thing is clear: for Boys Varsity Basketball, the competition is intensifying as they gear up for the 2026 New England Founders League playoffs.
At the moment of publication, the team has a dominant 18-5 record. If you’re not aware of how special this team may be, let me give you a rundown of how this talented group got to where they are at this point in their season.
Throughout the season, the boys accumulated their fair share of blowout victories over teams like Trinity Pawling, Salisbury, Kent, and Millbrook. One of these displays came against our rival Taft, where we smoked them 62-32 in the Hoop Hall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts back on January 18. Though I’m sure no one is counting (yes we are), the boys doubled down against the Rhinos, beating them yet again with a 58-47 win just a couple weeks later on February 4.
Let me give you a rundown of how this talented group got to a dominant 18-5 record.
But on the other side of the spectrum, the team has had its nailbiters. For example, they lost their very first game of the season against Avon by a single point, and came up four points short of defeating Williston, the defending NEPSAC Class A champions, on January 31.
Despite these close losses, the boys came through in other thrillers— none bigger than their comeback win against Dexter Southfield on February 11th. I’m sure the entire school has seen the clip by now: with our guys down by 2 as time was winding down, the Jordan Ghee ’26 would hit a game-winning buzzer beater from beyond the arc to earn a narrow victory.
Another memorable moment came just this past Saturday, on the team’s Senior Day, when Preston Merrick ’26 scored his 1000th career point to help lift the boys to a hard-fought 59- 42 victory against Choate. This rare milestone was last achieved by Dean Hogans ’25, who scored his 1000th point last season. Merrick, a four- year senior, is currently a co-captain of the team. He is committed to play basketball at Harvard University next year.
Players are staying focused on their quest for the program’s first NEPSAC Class A League championship since 2022.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Joe Busacca and Coach Souleman Toure ’19, the team has been able to combine relentless defense with unselfish offense. Being able to stay composed in tight games makes them a force that no one wants to face. The strength of this force was evident in the team’s longest win streak (eight wins in a row). And as of now, the boys have been dialed in, winning 13 of their last 14 regular season games dating back to before the Winter Break.
These results aren’t achieved by accident; it’s what happens when people show up to every single practice ready to put in the effort—when talent meets hard work. After every one of their games, they award the DOG chain (defender of the game) to the player who best exemplifies effort and tenacity for the defensive side of the game. As the famous saying goes, “offense wins games, defense wins championships.” Perfecting the little details is what separates the great teams from the elite teams.
The boys wrap up this year’s regular season in the coming couple of weeks with games against Kent and Loomis— games that will determine the team’s seeding in the playoffs. With an 80% regular season winning percentage at publication, the season has been a remarkable success. As amazing as these results are, though, the team is staying focused on their quest for the program’s first NEPSAC Class A League Championship since the 2022 season. Regular season accolades are nice, but championship banners last a lifetime.
