Greatness leads to gratitude for Nobles
There were plenty of happy tears shed by the Noble & Greenough girls’ basketball team after winning the NEPSAC Class AA championship game Sunday, but no one was more emotional than coach Alex Gallagher.
The top-seeded Bulldogs (29-1) fended off a late rally from second-seeded Tilton (N.H.) to prevail, 66-57, at home and secure their second straight title.
Gallagher, reflecting on the finality of one of the region’s most dominant rosters in recent memory, was overwhelmed with gratitude.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Gallagher said. “There are a lot of good coaches out there that have never been able to coach the kids I’ve been able to coach, and I’m just grateful.”
Nasi Simmons earned tournament MVP honors, but in typical Nobles fashion, the production came from everywhere.
Grace Oliver led with 14 points, Simmons added 13, and Jasmyn Cooper and Christina Pham had 12 each.
“We play for each other,” Simmons said. “We all know we have each other’s back. There’s so much love behind it.”
The Bulldogs’ balance and two-way energy defined a 31-17 first half. Their four seniors took turns with hustle contributions. Oliver sent back an emphatic chasedown block to get the crowd fired up. Simmons attacked the offensive glass, Tahira Muhammad earned free throws with her drives, and Tori Balser capitalized on full-court pressure with a big steal.
Cooper, the Independent School League MVP, was the Xfactor and primary defender against Tilton star guard Ahnay Adams.
Adams, a Miami commit ranked No. 39 in her class nationally by ESPN, didn’t score until 24 seconds remained in the first half.
“Ahnay’s an unbelievable player; I have so much respect for her and for them,” Gallagher said. “But we have Coop, and other people don’t, and that really differentiates us.”
Nobles had size and active hands across the lineup, plus Cooper at the point of attack. That helped force turnovers and tough shots when Adams, a New Bedford native, launched her power drives.
Division Class A
Loomis Chaffee (Conn.) 47, Kent 39— Ke’iara Odume scored a game-high 19 points and Alicia Mitchell added 15 as top-seeded Loomis Chaffee won at Nobles. Division Class B St. George’s 57, Beaver Country
Day28— With 15 points from Mia Fiore and 12 from Laura Johnson-Shedd, top-seeded St. George’s cruised to a championship at Nobles.
Division Class C
Wilbraham & Monson 55,
Brewster Academy 39 — The stage wasn’t too big for sophomores Cat Ravosa (15 points) and Selah Prignano (13 points), who powered top-seeded Wilbraham & Monson to a championship at Nobles.
Division Class D
Rocky Hill Country Day 59, Vermont Academy 52 — Freshman Addie Mahar paced secondseeded Rocky Hill (R.I.) to a NEPSAC Class D championship at Nobles despite No. 4 Vermont Academy getting 16 points from Meg Albee and 15 from Ty’Lah Washington.
Boys’ basketball
Division Class A
Phillips Exeter 60, Phillips Andover 42 — Almost a year ago, Henry Bickford walked off the Tsongas Center court in defeat after falling in the Division 1 state championship game to Worcester North as a member of the Needham High boys’ basketball team.
Sunday, Bickford could walk off the court at Clark University as a champion after scoring 17 points to help lead Phillips Exeter to a 60-42 victory over Phillips Andover in the NEPSAC Class A championship game.
“Last year at Needham, we lost the state championship,” said Bickford, a senior. “So it feels really good to get one, especially with these guys.”
Bickford scored 10 of his 17 points in the second half. Junior Tyler Bike (Bedford, N.H.) also finished with 17 points.
Division Class B
Rivers 70, Millbrook 39 —
Thanks to a 24-point MVP performance by Amir Lindsey, the top-seeded Red Wings claimed victory over No. 6 Millbrook (N.Y.) at Clark for their third straight title.
“It feels great,” said Rivers senior guard JJ Jones, who scored 7 points. “It’s our third one in a row, too, so there is no better way to go out.”
Lindsey scored 13 of his 24 points in the second half.