Ava Davey ’25 dribbling at the perimeter against Dexter.
Friday 2/14 – Andover 41-88 Dexter
Saturday 2/15 – Andover 33-42 Pingree
Wednesday 2/19 – Andover 58-50 BB&N
Girls Basketball faced a demanding but pivotal week as they took on Dexter Southfield (Southfield), Pingree, and Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N). With the playoffs approaching, these matchups tested the team’s resilience and provided key learning moments. Despite tough losses to Southfield and Pingree, Andover bounced back with a crucial victory against BB&N, showcasing their determination and fight for a postseason berth.
Juliana Stevenson ’28 reflected on the team’s struggles in their losses to Southfield and Pingree, pointing to slow starts as a key factor. She noted that falling behind early made it difficult to recover, especially against strong opponents, and that allowing Pingree to build confidence ultimately hurt Andover’s chances.
“In both games, we got ourselves in an early deficit. Due to the firepower of Dexter Southfield, it was hard to dig out of the hole. We did the same thing in the Pingree game, and it just gave them the additional confidence that they could hang with us when, honestly, we are the better team,” said Stevenson.
Stevenson viewed the tough losses as learning experiences, emphasizing that they provided the team with a chance to grow and improve ahead of the playoffs. Despite the results, she noted that the team has proven at times that it could compete at the highest level.
“Although it wasn’t the result that we wanted, it was an opportunity to grow as a team, especially as we get closer to the end of the season and the playoffs. We had some stretches where we showed we can compete with the highest level of NEPSAC [New England Preparatory School Athletic Council] opponents,” said Stevenson.
Head Coach Jennifer Weissbach reflected on the team’s balance of focus and fun, emphasizing how its best performances come when the team plays hard while having fun. She highlighted the importance of its Class A victory over BB&N and the excitement it generated, noting that the team hopes to carry that energy forward.
“The energy on the bus on the way there was great. The team was focused but having fun, and we are at our best when we are having fun, playing hard, and playing together. After the game, everyone was super hype. It was a big Class A win for us. The BB&N game was a Class A game that we really needed to win, so the energy was great after the game, and we hope that energy will help us in the next couple of days,” said Weissbach.
Ava Davey ’25 emphasized the strong bond within the team, highlighting the supportive and positive culture that has been a cornerstone of its season. She credited the team’s focus on the controllables as a key factor in fostering a close-knit environment.
“Our team is super close, and everyone is really good friends, which is something so special. I am so happy with our team culture. We really focus on the things we can control — like how we treat and support each other, our attitudes, and how hard we work — which creates such an amazing environment in practice and games,” said Davey.
With two days of practice remaining, Andover is preparing for a key tournament at Deerfield. Weissbach emphasized the importance of the weekend and expressed confidence in the team’s form heading into these critical matchups.
“We’ll have two more days of practice here, then we’ll head to a little tournament on Saturday at Deerfield. We will have a rematch against Deerfield on Saturday morning, and then we’ll play the winner of Exeter [Phillips Exeter Academy] vs. Lawrenceville on Saturday afternoon. It’s a big weekend for us with two huge games, and I feel really good about where our team is at right now,” said Weissbach.
After the team’s tournament at Deerfield, they will play Holderness at home on Wednesday and travel to Exeter next Saturday.
