by MacKenzie Silvia
Boys’ basketball fell to Catholic Memorial 92-73 in the Division 1 South Sectional Semifinals on Tuesday, March 3.
Although the Tigers maintained a 15-point lead for the first 10 minutes of the game, “the ball just didn’t bounce our way,” said coach Paul Connolly.
“The CM game was tough. We had a great start which we needed and then they got momentum and once the momentum shifted it was tough to shift it back our way,” Connolly said.
Regardless of the final results it was an “incredible experience for all of us and we created life-long memories throughout it all,” said senior Tommy Mobley, a captain with seniors Sam Jefferson and Brett Stanton.
“It was the best season of my life,” Stanton said. “We won the third most games in Newton North history and we were obviously very happy with our 22-3 record.”
Jefferson attributes the success of the season to the amazing bond the team developed.
“Our team really came together and accepted one another,” Jefferson said. “We had strong bonds with one another on and off the court that will live past this season, and we’ve made memories together that we will never forget.”
Connolly believes the team understood what the game is all about this season.
“The goal is always to be an unselfish group and to be the best we can be and we did that this year,” he said.
Stanton appreciates the coaches “who taught me so much about being a better basketball player and helped me along the path to maturing into an adult with great character.”
“And a big shout out to the NNHS Sixth Man,” Stanton added. “They supported us amazingly all year and we may not have had the success we had with an average crowd.”
“We have such great fans,” Connolly said. “The Sixth Man and everybody in the school supports us in such a positive way.”
Although the journey is over for the seniors, they definitely left their mark at Newton North.
“The Class of 2015 won the league four straight years,” Connolly said. “It was really just a remarkable season. So many good memories.”