Ava Davey ’25 looks to pass in the second period against Hotchkiss.
2/22 – Andover: 54, Deerfield: 47
2/22 – Andover: 49, Lawrenceville: 45
2/26 – Andover: 44, Holderness: 56
Girls Basketball (11-13) pulled out two impressive wins this past weekend in the Northeast 8 (NE8) tournament against Deerfield and Lawrenceville despite playing two games in one day. The team suffered a tough loss on Senior Night this Wednesday against Holderness; however, they are preparing to finish off the regular season strong this Saturday against Exeter.
Cuyler Sparks ’27 noted the team’s resilience during their back-to-back matches at the NE8 tournament. She added that despite the early wake-up and long bus ride, they kept their form and played well.
“[Playing] two games in a day, back to back, was definitely challenging for us. But we worked on [our]… endurance in practice. It really paid off and led to us winning both games,” said Sparks.
Julianna Stevenson ’28 shouted out teammate Laney Cafua ’27, who has made a big impact in their past two wins with her uplifting presence and lockdown defense.
“She constantly brings effort. No matter what, she dives for loose balls and grabs rebounds. She passes on her energy to everyone else on the court and always knows how to get us going. She received the tough task of face-guarding a player on the opposing team and did amazing as [Laney] held her to a very few shot attempts,” said Stevenson.
During their senior night game against Holderness, Sparks highlighted Senior Emerson Buckley ’25’s determination and energy.
“I’d say one of the seniors, Emerson. She had a lot of really good blocks and was offensively one of their best players. She played really well, and she always brings great energy and leadership to the team,” said Sparks.
For the Girls Basketball Seniors – Buckley, Ava Davey ’25, Sophie Dandawa ’25, and Akari Imai ’25 – Sparks described the emotional last home game of the season.
“There were a lot of high emotions, but in a good way. Our Seniors were definitely sad that this was going to be their last home game, and it also translated into our playing and the effort on the court,” said Sparks.
Throughout the season, the team has faced many challenging teams, but the players feel they have taken something from each game, win or loss. Julianna Stevenson ’28 expressed her excitement for their upcoming match against Exeter.
“I’m super excited for this weekend in our rivalry to show out all of our hard work as a team. The environment will be a huge adjustment that we are ready for and we will use as fuel,” said Stevenson.
Adding onto Stevenson’s comment, Sparks gave insight into how the team is preparing for the Andover-Exeter matchup, focusing on adjusting and staying focused during the game despite the loud, energetic atmosphere.
“Our coach has talked a lot about how loud it’s going to be, [so we are] working on our communication… Also, being able to keep our composure and not get worked up because of the crowds and energy in the gym,” said Sparks
Although they did not win on Wednesday, the team is confident in its performance and potential, preparing for each game differently.
“We have been working a lot on facing a team that plays man-on-man defense or zone defense, staying prepared regardless of what they come out in. We’ve also been working on tight defense and specific skills depending on the scouting reports that we receive on the teams we are playing,” said Chloe Abou-Ezzi ’27.
As the regular season comes to a close, Stevenson reflected on the friendships and knowledge she has gained through basketball, thanks to supportive coaches and teammates.
“This season has had its ups and downs with our wins and losses, but overall, I have taken a lot away from this season. I have not only created new relationships but also learned more about basketball that I will always carry with me. The coaches have been amazing to our team this season and truly believe in us,” said Stevenson.
