Deerfield JV Boys Basketball faced a tough challenge at home against a talented Andover team, falling 56-48 despite battling back multiple times throughout the game. Early scoring struggles saw Deerfield down 3-17 before Peter Lakey ’28’s three-pointer began to chip away at the deficit. Carter Schloat ’28 followed with a putback, and Will Machnik ’26 added two free throws to narrow the gap. By halftime, Deerfield had cut Andover’s lead to just two points, 22-20, thanks to a perfectly executed press break from Hawk Okpokwasili ’25 to Marty Rodriguez Pastor ’28 for a contested layup.
In the second half, Andover’s switch to a 2-3 zone stifled Deerfield’s offense, while free throw woes continued to haunt the Doors, hitting just 11 of 31 attempts from the stripe. Despite the struggles, Deerfield showed resilience. Michael Hioe ’27 and Okpokwasili sparked defensive efforts with big blocks and key stops. Rodriguez Pastor led the scoring with 15 points, including two critical three-pointers that kept Deerfield within striking distance. Mac Hynds ’26 contributed with a brilliant spinning reverse layup on a fast break and a corner three-pointer against the zone, keeping the team competitive.
Will Machnik and Sam Peake ’28 found ways into the soft spots of the Andover zone, creating scoring opportunities, while Jay Rich ’27 and JJ Kicza ’28 added key defensive plays. Schloat and Teddy Hamadeh ’26 battled on the boards, but despite the collective effort, Andover pulled away in the final minutes to secure the win.
Standout Performances:
- Marty Rodriguez Pastor ’28: 15 points, including two three-pointers in the second half
- Mac Hynds ’26: 9 points, versatile scoring and rebounding
- Will Machnik ’26: 5 points, steady on-court leadership and ball handling
- Teddy Hamadeh ’26: 4 points, inside presence
- Peter Lakey ’28: 3 points, key three-pointer to spark a first half run
- Sam Peake ’28: 3 points, smart positioning in the zone and timely rebounding
- Jay Rich ’27, Michael Hioe ’27, Carter Schloat ’28, JJ Kicza ’28: 2 points each, critical defensive contributions
Despite the tough loss, Deerfield showed flashes of strong play and will look to improve at the free throw line and minimize turnovers as they prepare for their next matchup across 5 and 10 at Eaglebrook.