Christmas came early for Coach Francis and the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team. Before the team went home for Christmas break, they participated in the annual Huckins-Rouse tournament held at Middlesex. The team was guided by the mantra established by Coach Francis at the beginning of season, which is “to go 1-0 every game.” The team was able to do this twice. In a round-robin style tournament the team finished with a record of 2-0, giving them their first championship in their seven years of participation in the Huckins-Rouse tournament in.

In their first game, Groton faced Hopkins School from New Haven, Connecticut. Groton controlled the game from the opening tip. By establishing their presence early, Groton players ensured that the young Hopkins team was unable to keep up. Each Groton player saw playing time as they cruised to a 62-45 win. Co-Captain Noah Aaron ‘18 led the team in scoring, finishing with eighteen points. Fellow captain John Cecil ‘17 said that he was “ecstatic.” The team played really well and with heart,” he continued. “It was the first time in the team’s history of winning the tournament and I’m very happy to be on the team that won my senior year.”

The next day Groton faced a tougher opponent, Portsmouth Abbey. Traveling all the way from Rhode Island, the Abbey came to play. Early in the game, a star Abbey player reached a pinnacle for high school player: he became a thousand-point scorer. The team called a timeout, and they player took pictures with his family and coaches. The Zebras were not rattled though. The team matched the Abbey’s performance punch for punch. In a physical game, in which a couple of small scuffles broke out, the Zebras were able to secure a 49-42 win. Spectator at the game Tripp Stup ‘17said, “What a back and forth thriller; that was one of the most thrilling games I have watched during my time at Groton.”

In the locker room after the game, the team was notified that they would not play the third game due to weather conditions and were told that they won the tournament because they had the best record. Coach Francis then gave the news that Joe Collins ‘18, Noah Aaron ‘18, and Aram Moossavi ‘17 were named to the all tournament team. As the locker room went electric while bumping Taylor Swift, the team looked forward to coming back from break.

In their first game back after the holiday break, the Zebras decisively beat Bancroft School 90-56. With this win, the team held a  record of 4-3, surpassing last season’s win total. Their most recent opponents – which have included ISL powerhouse teams such as Belmont Hill and St. Sebastian’s – have proved more difficult, and the team has not since been able to secure a win. Moving into the heart of the conference schedule, Boys’ Basketball is hungry to win their first league game in over a year. In the coming weeks, the Zebras’ schedule includes games up Dexter, St. Paul’s, Middlesex, and St. George’s, all of which are expected to be competitive.