Featured Story
Boys Varsity Basketball Check In
The boys varsity basketball team is off to a promising start.
Expectations are high for the boys varsity basketball team this season, and for good reason. In the first seven games of the season, the Storm have gone 6-1 with wins against Greens Farms Academy, King, Hamden Hall, Brimmer & May, and Governor’s Academy. The team’s only loss came to a talented Lawrenceville School team in a tournament at Kingswood Oxford School. Even the loss showcased the Storm’s talent as the team lost by a slim margin. The final score was 59-64.
Under the tutelage of head coach Drew Gladstone,on and off court excellence is the expectation for his players. Gladstone was straightforward about the possibilities that lay in store for the boys varsity basketball. He said: “We want to win a championship. We want to win an FAA championship and we want to win a New England championship. We have the talent, and we have the tools to achieve those goals. The only question will be how hard we can play on a consistent basis.” The responsibility of putting all of the pieces together rests heavily on the shoulders of the team’s veterans. Seniors Jalen Latta ‘16 and Shannon Smith ‘16, who have been mainstays of the basketball program for many years, will need to fill leadership roles. Walter Whyte ‘17 and Jonas Harper ‘18 had stellar seasons for the varsity squad last year, and their experience will also be instrumental in the success of the Storm. Gladstone stated, “All of those guys have a task to lead the team. If they do that, I think we will be really dangerous.”
So far, Gladstone’s predictions have come true. In league games the Storm have looked especially dominant. The team plays a stifling brand of full court defense, paired with explosive offense—a testament to Gladstone’s focus on conditioning and strategy. In the first game of the season, the Storm trounced long-time rival Greens Farms Academy 89-37. The team put up similar results against King, winning the contest 79-36. Against Hamden Hall, a traditionally tough team, the Storm won 61-51.
Perhaps the team’s greatest success up to this point in the season was the team’s nail biter game against Brimmer & May which resulted in a 52-51 Storm victory. The win was indicative of the team’s ability to overcome obstacles, as Brimmer & May is ranked in a higher division than St. Luke’s. Gladstone attributed the team’s success to teamwork: “The players are committed to playing team ball, and above everything else, that will take us far.”
As the boys varsity basketball team looks to continue its success in the months to come, Gladstone believes that the members of the Storm will continue to grow together on and off the court. If the team is able to stay true to its goals, they will win. The philosophy of the team that has already proved effective is simple. In the words of Drew Gladstone: “Defense first, play unselfish basketball, make each other better, and, above all, have fun.”
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
