BVBB: *Captains are bolded* Justin Ampofo (Form VI), Deven Chitkara (Form VI), Isaiah Fletcher (Form VI), Max Frei (Form VI) Charlie Gelernt (Form VI), Henry Kaiden (Form VI), Devin Schlachter (Form VI), Gavin Wright (Form VI), Ben Yablon (Form VI), Gideon Bialkin (Form V), Alex Burnazian (Form V), David Ciagne (Form V), Ellis Lynch-Kahn (Form V), Nate Schmelkin (Form V), Chase Shaftel (Form V), Carter Samuels (Form IV) and Shaan Daly (Form III).
GVBB: *Captains are bolded* Susanna Audi (Form VI), Gabriela Nikolova (Form VI), Greta Glanz (Form VI), Alexa Citron (Form V), Zoe Hort (Form V), Jade Ling Eng-Stewart (Form V), Rachel Stulman (Form V), Samantha Ben-Ari (Form III), Hazel Cignarella (Form III), Zoe Ornstein (Form III), Eliza Schlachter (Form III) and Sarah Weinick (Form III).
With the fall sports season fully concluded and the winter season in full swing, I figured it was time to pay some attention to Eagle basketball. To start the season, both the Girls and Boys Basketball programs have undefeated records thus far, at 5-0 and 4-0 respectively, boasting large margins of victories. Both teams have undeniably been playing great basketball so far this season, and I was curious to know what the teams have done to enable that. So, I sat down with some of the players from each team to learn a little more about their team identities and goals for this season.
When I asked members of Boys Varsity Basketball (BVB) about the team’s nature, the recurring theme I got was a reliance on a gritty, hardworking playstyle. “We’re a physical, pressing team,” said Gelernt, a starting forward. “We’re looking to outwork and outhustle every team,” echoed Wright, a captain of this Eagles squad. The team’s physical mentality is overtly apparent through their play, as you often find them diving for loose balls, jumping for offensive rebounds and swiping steals in the backcourt. “We love causing bedlam in the backcourt,” Wright said, further emphasizing BVB’s defensive resolve. BVB is looking to beat opponents with their defensive intensity and relentless effort on all sides of the ball.
On the Girls Varsity Basketball (GVB) team, there was an overwhelming theme of team unity. “Our team identity is the fist. We are many, but yet we are one. Each finger has its own strengths and weaknesses, but together we are a force to be reckoned with,” said team captain Jade Ling Eng-Stewart. She also emphasized GVB’s development from last season. “With the addition of some new teammates and a new coaching staff, we are off to a very good start. We are working harder than ever to condition and prepare ourselves for the upcoming season.”
Both Eagle squads have lofty playoff expectations, with the two teams aspiring towards winning the NYSAIS Championship. Based on their dominant starts to the season, both teams looked primed for deep playoff runs in February. For BVB, it would be their second year in a row of making it to the NYSAIS finals after their loss to Poly Prep last season, and for GVB, a trip to the NYSAIS finals could show the rest of the division that the Eagles are the team to beat for the future.
Captains Wright and Eng-Stewart also promised exciting Eagles games in the future for students to attend. Specifically, the Horace Mann matchup scheduled for Winterfest on January 26th (pop out!) and games versus Dalton and Riverdale on December 13th and February 2nd, respectively. All the players are hoping that the student body can pack the gym for some signature Fieldston basketball. Go Eagles!
Excellent article Isaac. Very succinct and very detailed. Great work!