Big Weekend in Prep Ranks
With prep school basketball now fully back in the swing of things following their holiday break, we’re looking at an especially busy and meaningful weekend of basketball in the New England region.
In Class AAA of the NEPSAC, we’ll see a clash of the reigning New England and National champions as Northfield Mount Hermon travels to Brewster Academy for a 4pm game on Saturday. The two clubs have split both of the prestigious titles in recent years with NMH taking the NEPSAC crown in 2012 and national title in 2013 and Brewster Academy winning their second national championship in 2012 and third NEPSAC crown last season.
South Kent returned from break just in time to jump into the most challenging time in their schedule, beginning with an 87-85 win over Believe Prep on Thursday. They’ll head north for a two game road trip this weekend beginning with a 6:00p.m. game at New Hampton on Saturday and then a 1:00p.m. tip at fellow AAA rival Bridgton on Sunday.
New Hampton will have a quick bounce back game as well as they’ll host St. Thomas More on Monday, less than 48 hours after their match-up with South Kent. The Chancellors get a tune-up game first though as they’ll take on Montmorency at home on Saturday.
The defending AA champions, Cushing Academy, have an equally important weekend as they’ll travel to St. Andrew’s on Friday night in a rematch of last year’s finalists. They’ll return home on Saturday to host another AA favorite, Kimball Union Academy, in a game set to tip at 3:30p.m.
Meanwhile Wilbraham and Monson, who went into the holiday break as arguably AA’s hottest team, will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina to take on St. Joseph’s Metuchen (NJ) in a match-up that will feature Goodluck Okonoboh against Kentucky bound big man Karl Towns.
This weekend will also feature a pair of exciting prep school events in the greater Boston area.
The 2014 Ballas Invitational will take place at UMass Boston (100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA) on Saturday and Sunday with the following schedule:
Saturday, January 11th
3:30p.m Brimmer & May (MA) vs. Believe Prep (SC)
5:00p.m. Hoosac (NY) vs. Beaver Country Day (MA)
6:30p.m. Tilton (NH) vs. Notre Dame Prep (MA)
8:00p.m. Kiski (PA) vs. Rivers (MA)
Sunday, January 12th:
11:00a.m. Commonwealth Academy (MA) vs. Hillside School (MA)
12:30p.m. Worcester Academy (MA) vs. Kiski School (PA)
2:00p.m. Hoosac (NY) vs. Brimmer & May (MA)
3:30p.m. Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) vs. Putnam Science Academy (CT)
5:00p.m. St. Andrew's (RI) vs. Hyde (CT)
The Hoop Dreams Mag Prep Classic will also take place on Saturday and Sunday at Tufts University (161 College Ave, Medford, MA) with the following schedule:
Saturday, January 11th
10:30a.m.: Wheeler (MA) vs. Rivers (MA)
12:00p.m.: Thayer (MA) vs. Commonwealth Academy (MA)
1:45p.m.: Worcester Academy (MA) vs. Marianapolis Prep (CT)
3:15p.m.: Vermont Academy (VT) vs. Belmont Hill (MA)
5:00p.m.: MacDuffie School (MA) vs. Lee Academy (ME)
6:45p.m.: Jean-De-Brebeuf (CAN) vs. Believe Prep (SC)
8:30p.m.: Canterbury School (CT) vs. Avon Old Farms (CT)
Sunday, January 12th:
10:00a.m.: St. Paul's (NH) vs. Winchendon (MA)
11:30a.m.: Lee Academy (ME) vs. Jean-De-Brebeuf (CAN)
1:15p.m.: Believe Prep (SC) vs. Tabor Academy (MA)
3:00p.m.: Vermont Academy (VT) vs. Brooks School (MA)
4:30p.m.: MacDuffie School (MA) vs. Notre Dame Prep (MA)
6:00p.m.: Beaver country Day (MA) vs. St. Mark's (MA)
Goodluck Okonoboh