Young Owls Flex Their Talons, Earn Season’s First Win
Young Owls Flex Their Talons, Earn Season’s First Win
1/30/24
1/30/24
After a 15 point opening season loss to Hamden Hall last week, the JV Boys Basketball Team was nearly back to full strength as they faced Pine Point School on Tuesday afternoon. With only one player missing (JV veteran, Patrick Becker ‘26), the group of five 6th Graders and four 5th Graders were excited to face a team against whom they’d gone 1-1 in two close games last season.
From the jump, the Owls soared high, setting the tone by scrambling for loose balls and communicating well on defense to combat the quick-driving Panthers squad. Jumping to a quick 4-0 lead on back-to-back drives by Jonah McDonough ‘26, the group showed that it would take a strong effort from Pine Point to stay in the game. Nevertheless, Pine Point wasn’t willing to cede the game that quickly, making up for nice shots in the paint from Jimmy Ogeneski ‘26 and Edward Barney ‘27 by closing to within one at the end of the quarter, trailing 9-8.
The second quarter stayed close as Pine Point shifted from man-to-man to a stifling zone defense. While this required some adjustment, the team was able to adapt through a combination of penetrating drives from McDonough, while Oliver Molloy ‘27 netted an 18 foot jump shot from the left wing to join the scoring column. Really, though, it was the defense and rebounding that kept a slim 17-16 lead heading into halftime. Henry Laurans ‘26, playing center for the first time, managed the paint, corralling rebounds and making life miserable for the Panther big men. Despite a near-buzzer-beating layup from Pine Point, the core defensive duo of Andrew Lustberg ‘27 and Neil Parwani ‘26 patrolled the paint beautifully, corralling a number of important rebounds and tipping many balls back to their teammates, ensuring the Panthers wouldn’t have more chances to score on the offensive end.
If the first half was a nail-biter, the third quarter held a new storyline as the team really caught fire, outscoring Pine Point by 10 and taking a 31-20 It was the third quarter. Ogeneski took on the brunt of the quarter’s scoring with 8 points down low, while McDonough scored another 4 and Molloy hit another mid-range jumper. As the game opened up, Pine Point initiated a full court press–the first time the JV Owls had experienced that type of pressure. Still, with a mature and deliberate sense of patience, they were able to use some deft passing and movement to break the press without much trouble. Some sneaky defense in their own backcourt from Quinn Crimmins ‘26 caused some havoc for Pine Point as well as the bench erupted as he picked the pocket of the Panther point guard and nearly converted a fast break opportunity on the other end.
It was this contagious level of energy that enabled TCS to build on their lead in the 4th. Kyle Jacobson, who had served as a high post facilitator for much of the game, twice hit the floor diving for loose balls and forcing turnovers; he was duly rewarded, too, by scoring 4 points to put the game away.
With a final score of 41-26 in their first win of the season, Coach McDonough was effusive in his praise of the team. “This game had the fingerprints of everybody on our team all over it,” McDonough noted. “From our most experienced players to those of us who are brand new to basketball this winter, everyone brought their full effort. Prior to the game I had asked the team what we could control. They had agreed that effort and attitude were the only two things we could guarantee in any situation, and they absolutely lived up to those expectations today.” Having missed the first game because of illness, McDonough added, “I was really impressed with the poise and confidence everyone had out there today, as well as the selflessness to share the ball and set teammates up to be successful.”
For the game, Jonah McDonough led the scoring with 21, while Jimmy Ogeneski had 10, Kyle Jacobson and Oliver Molloy both had 4, and Edward Barney had 2. With many other players securing vital rebounds, making brilliant assists, and deflecting many a ball on the defensive end, scoring alone fails to tell the whole narrative. Great game, team!
The team doesn’t get much rest before they hit the road this coming Thursday for an away game against Independent Day School at 3:45
341 Opening Hill Road, Madison, CT 06443
P. 203-421-3113 | F. 203-421-4390 | Health Office F. 860-469-2550
P. 203-421-3113 | F. 203-421-4390 | Health Office F. 860-469-2550
Founded in 1955, The Country School is a coeducational, independent school serving students in PreSchool-Grade 8. The Country School is committed to active, hands-on learning and a vigorous curriculum that engages the whole child.