Tenacious Play Seals Victory on St. Mark's Day
Groton clinched a decisive win on St. Mark’s Day, defeating its longtime rival in all but one varsity contest.
In perhaps the most dramatic win of the day, boys varsity hockey pulled off a victory in sudden death overtime. Groton was down 3–1, but battled back to tie the game with just ninety-three seconds remaining.
In perhaps the most dramatic win of the day, boys varsity hockey pulled off a victory in sudden death overtime. Groton was down 3–1, but battled back to tie the game with just ninety-three seconds remaining.
During a nail-biting five-minute overtime period, Mark Gallant ’19 rushed the puck up the ice and passed to Santeri Hartikainen ’18, who sunk it in the net with only two seconds remaining! (Watch that last-seconds victory.) The crowd erupted, and the team rushed into a congratulatory pile, elated.
The girls varsity basketball win on St. Mark's Day, 60–40, moved the team into the playoffs. Coach Joe Crail said the players "used a balanced scoring attack and strong defense to beat St. Mark's in front of a loud and spirited student body." Meghan Carney '19 led the Zebras with sixteen points, followed by Alyna Baharozian '18 with fifteen, Lyndsey Toce '19 with twelve, and—playing in her last home game—Kai Volcy '17 with eleven points. Kai received a long standing ovation as she exited the game for the last time in front of the home crowd. Groton's girls basketball team takes on Lawerence Academy (at LA) on Wednesday, March 1, at 3:00 p.m.
Even the well-fought girls hockey game had moments of high drama, despite a 3–1 loss. Among the memorable moments were numerous saves by goalie Min Shin ’18, superb blocking by Coco Wallace ’17, and a game-tying goal in the second period by Angelina Joyce '18.
In boys basketball, the impressive 61–50 win over St. Mark's rested in part on twenty-one points scored by Noah Aaron ’18, fifteen by Joe Collins ’18, and thirteen by John Cecil ’17, who also frustrated St. Mark’s with ten blocks. It was an especially sweet win for boys basketball after a long dry spell against St. Mark’s.
JV teams racked up wins as well: girls JV basketball won 33–9, and boys JV basketball won 62–49.
School spirit, revved up through Spirit Week activities in the days preceding the games, buoyed every team on St. Mark’s Day. “Our rivalry with St.Mark's is one of the best in high school sports, and the school spirit that was on display today was amazing,” said Harold Francis, assistant athletic director and basketball coach. “With the crowd being our ‘sixth’ man on the court, we could not lose.”
Photo by Sarah Forbes '86, P'18
School spirit, revved up through Spirit Week activities in the days preceding the games, buoyed every team on St. Mark’s Day. “Our rivalry with St.Mark's is one of the best in high school sports, and the school spirit that was on display today was amazing,” said Harold Francis, assistant athletic director and basketball coach. “With the crowd being our ‘sixth’ man on the court, we could not lose.”
Photo by Sarah Forbes '86, P'18
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