This year’s boys varsity basketball season was filled with big wins, major performances from players, and the development of young talent that will be critical for the team’s upcoming seasons. The team finished with a solid record of 16-9 on the season.
The team finished with wins over key Founders League opponents and also Class B opponents. In the regular season, KO defeated Loomis Chaffee, Taft, and Westminster twice. The players on KO were thrilled with these wins. Many talked about the Loomis game when asked about their favorite memories from the year. Sophomore guard DJ Biggins mentioned this game when he was asked about his favorite moments from the year. “Being able to take down a Class A boarding school was huge for us,” Biggins said. “The end of the game was electric, and being able to do it in front of our home crowd was sick.”
KO defeated Loomis 61-60 on Feb. 7. After a back-and-forth thrilling game. KO controlled the second half, but after runs by Loomis, the game came down to the wire. Clutch free throws from senior guard Rhandyn Bair put KO ahead, and with some strong defense, KO was able to come away with a massive win. KO also defended Hewett against Taft on Jan. 8, winning 61-45 against the 4 seed from Class A.
Throughout the season, the KO team was filled with leaders and playmakers at all positions. “Senior centers Chuck Hare and Odin Malz have been huge leaders for us in the paint this season,” Head Coach Brad Seaman said. “Along with Rhandyn and DJ, these four have been major contributors to our success.” Another reason for the team’s success is their fantastic job at point distribution. Depending on the team, KO had the ability to attack the interior but also hit outside shots due to sophomore guard Declan Griffiths. Coach Seaman was proud of the team’s selflessness this season and their mentality, not just their stats.
As the season wound down, KO was seeded third in the NEPSAC Class B tournament with a home game against Millbrook on Feb. 28. Previously defeating them 82-59, this game was set to be more challenging with the injury of Holy Cross commit, Hare, and revenge brewing on Millbrooks’ mind. The Wyverns fought until the last second with incredible performances from Bair and Biggins, but, unfortunately, the Wyverns fell 68-67 after a valiant effort.
Looking ahead to next year, KO has key players returning that will set them up for another chance at a trophy. Biggins and Griffiths return, and so does sophomore guard Tyler Brown. They also bring back junior guard Justice Hanna, giving them a lethal backcourt for next season. Assistant Head Coach Ron Garcia had extremely high praise for the underclassmen at this year’s winter sports assembly. “Our underclassmen are phenomenal,” Garcia said. “With them returning, this team has the ability to be special next year and the year after that.”
The Wyverns are building a culture around the basketball program that will inevitably lead to another Class B championship whether it’s next year or in 2026. The KO community looks forward to seeing this team again in the KITs, Founder’s matchups, and the playoffs once again in 2025. Although the season ended in a playoff loss, this year’s team had major success this season and will continue to dominate for the years to come.
