The Ball is in Their Court: Newman’s AAA Basketball Team is Showing a Promising Season
The basketball team huddles during the match against Worcester Academy on December 2, 2022. The outcome was a 69-95 loss for the Cardinals. (Photo courtesy of Kailen Mendes ‘23 and the Newman yearbook committee)
The Newman AAA basketball team has gained notoriety across many parts of the east coast, taking in record basketball victories for the school. From their very first game against We Believe Academy to their most recent loss against Vanier College Prep at Basketball Hoopfest 2022, the team morale is far from dwindling. While the season doesn’t conclude until March 2023, things are looking up for the team. “I’m looking forward to surprising a lot of people, [be]cause we’re a brand new team. People aren’t expecting that much from us and we’re better than they [may] think,” Joe Pebley ‘23 shared when inquired on what he was most excited for. Pebley also mentioned how it has been valuable working with the team’s coach, and how team spirit is fostered through each long practice. Coach Johnson has been working hard with the group over countless hours of practices and a busy game schedule. Coach Johnson spoke on his experience with coaching the AAA basketball team, “It’s a blast. It’s my first time coaching these students, [and] we took a lot of time in recruiting the sixteen young men that we have on the team…they’re really good kids, and it’s super rewarding being a part of their futures.” With seven wins and eight losses recorded so far, the players have been working harder than ever to ensure a successful conclusion to the 2022-23 season.
The team practices during the Newman Open Run on September 14, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the @newman_hoops Instagram page)
“I’m looking forward to seeing their overall growth. We have a really tough schedule playing against national-level competition and it’s gonna put them in situations of uncertainty and difficulty, and that's where you see these guys rise to the occasion”
Coach Johnson
