2017 Alumni Basketball Game

Alumni basketball players from the Classes of 1991-2016 returned to Browning on December 20 for the annual Alumni Basketball Game in the Upper Gym. Director of Athletics Andrew West ’92 provided the following re-cap:

“This year’s Alumni Basketball Game was one for the ages. In past years, teams were divided as even class years versus odd class years, or older alums versus younger alums. This year, the group divided the teams up as fairly as possible, and as you can tell by the final score of 117-116, it was a good matchup between the Red Team and the Grey Team. 

“The teams battled back and forth throughout the game with multiple lead changes and no easy baskets. The Red Team took a nine-point lead into the final quarter before Phil Blake ’95 took matters into his own hands, lighting up the scoreboard with 24 of his 41 points coming in the final frame. After the Grey Team took the lead just three minutes into the fourth, the Red Team made a terrific coaching adjustment by putting Terrell Phelps ’11 back in, and the game went back and forth throughout, with Phelps and Blake trading jabs. The Grey Team trailed by three points with 12 seconds left. After a quick two-point bucket and a timeout, they decided to foul Steven Kassapidis ’11 to send him to the line to shoot. After a missed free-throw and another time out (luckily, time outs are unlimited in the alumni game) came the moment Phil Blake ’95 has been waiting for since 1992, when he first played varsity hoops. With 1.6 seconds left, the Grey Team inbounded the ball to Phil, who turned around and calmly sank a 12-footer to give the team the victory!

“After the game, Phil said: ‘It felt good, I just wish I had done that the year I dragged my wife to the game to watch me play.’ Also of note, Terrel Phelps ’11 tied his career high with one assist!

“Special thanks to Chef Gene DeFreitas and his crew for the delicious salad, pizza, cookies and drinks after the game, and of course to Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan and Director of Institutional Advancement Jim Simon for making sure the event went off without a hitch. It was also great to see Head of School John Botti and Director of College Guidance Sandy Pelz ’71 in the stands!”