The Lancers boys basketball program began official competition at the start of winter break. Since then, the varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams each had impressive performances, standout victories, and faced tough competition from top programs in the area. Last week was no different, as the Lancers battled the Padua Bruins, Hawken Hawks and Lutheran East Falcons. Recaps of each team's performance are detailed below, written by the coaches for the Lancers.
Varsity weekly recap (written by head coach Dan Decrane): The Lancers went 2-1 in a three-game, five-day stretch. The week started with a nice win over a veteran Padua team, which returned all five starters for the 2020-2021 season. Ben DeMell '21 led the way with his third career double-double, tallying 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Mueller '22 added to the front court prowess with 14 points and nine rebounds, as the Lancers dominated inside the paint throughout the game. Dorjan Flowers '23 played a strong floor game, defending Padua's trio of guards with seven assists and two steals.
In a New Year's Eve matinee against rival Hawken, the Lancers used a dominating third quarter to take a convincing 86-52 victory over the Hawks. Leading the way was Mueller, who scored a career-high 20 points, and senior Vinny Bandwen '21, who led the perimeter charge, pouring in 16 points, 12 of which came in the first half. The Lancers shot an incredible 64% from the field and 19 of 21 from the free throw line, good enough for 90.5%. Adisa Molton '23 led the team with seven assists. Matt Benisek '21 led the bench in scoring, chipping in with nine points, while Nathan Flaherty '22 nailed two three-pointers and Nathan Nootbaar '22 added four points and three rebounds. Teddy FitzGerald '21 sank a huge three-pointer from the wing in the fourth quarter.
On Saturday, the Lancers battled one of the top teams in the state in Lutheran East, as Gilmour led most of the first half. Pacing the Lancer attack was sophomore Brandon Rose '23, who tallied 15 points, four steals and four rebounds. Mueller led the team in rebounding with eight, while Flowers and Molton each had four assists.
Junior Varsity weekly recap (written by head coach Isaiah Matthews): What an eventful three-game week of basketball for the Lancers! Although the team finished with a 1-2 record on the week, the Lancers played hard and improved immensely during each contest. Against Padua, Peter Kavcic '21 stepped up and had a team-high 14 points. Chad Plucinsky '23 chipped in with nine points, and off the bench, freshman Tim Lee '24 gave the team a spark, adding eight points. In a win against Hawken, Jacob Lowery '23, Lee, and P. Kavcic each contributed 10 points. Lastly, in a first road game at Lutheran East, Andy Kavcic '24 and Plucinsky lead the team in scoring with eight points each. Overall, it was a productive week for the Lancers, as multiple players provided the team with good energy and positivity. The junior varsity squad is building together each day, and they are looking forward to the upcoming competition scheduled this week.
Freshman weekly recap (written by head coach Joe Biven): The freshman team had an exciting week of basketball, as they went 2-1 against strong competitors in Padua, Hawken and Lutheran East. First, the Lancers defeated the Bruins of Padua 46-42 in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory. JP Loeser '24 led the team in scoring with 17 points. Joe Delaney '24 added 12 and Kevin Flaherty '24 rounded out the top scorers on the day with nine points. The Lancers outscored the Bruins 21-13 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. On New Year's Eve, Gilmour defeated Hawken 38-35. Nick Speyer '24 led the Lancers in scoring with 10 points, and Dominic Salupo '24 and K. Flaherty added nine points. In an exciting battle that went to overtime, the Lancers fell just short against the Falcons of Lutheran East, as they lost 51-46. Speyer led the team in scoring with 11 points, followed by Loeser who contributed 10 points. Evan Winterstellar '24 added seven points and two assists in the second half, which was instrumental in helping the team force overtime.
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