John Taylor Hathaway
The Learning Center

Hello, this is JT Hathaway reporting on TLC's basketball. I will be reporting on basketball teams' goals and their needs of improvements. Last year, girls' team's record was 27 wins and 2 lose. They won New England Tip-Off Tournament hosted by TLC. They, also, won ESDAA girls' Division I championship for their second time in a row; the tournament was hosted by TLC. Including the Girls Independent League Division A championship. They were placed third in Boys' team's record were 10 wins and 13 lose. They had a rebuilding team last season; they went through a lot of hardship. But, we also won the New England Tip-Off Tournament; we placed second at ESDAA Boys Division II Tournament, hosted by West Virginia School for the Deaf. WVSD hosted their Division III at the same time. Our cheerleading team was set up last year. We are still growing our team. They just cheered for our first home game against Cambridge School of Weston

Starting with the girls' team. Their head coach is Brad Crowell; assistant coach is Peter Bailey. Our co-captains are Danielle Sprague (Senior), Desiree West (Senior), and Shaquana McDonough (Junior). I have interviewed all of the captains. I asked them for their feeling and thoughts of their team, the goals of the girl's team and improvements they need. Most of them said their team is just like a family to them. They also mentioned the goals of their team, which is to win the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Division D championship; which is also a big challenge for them. They also want to win all of their games this season. The improvement the team needs is not much but one thing they might need to improve on is their confidence and their current status, because when the seniors depart; so, the girls will be able to continue without the seniors. Since this season started, they have won all of their eight games. We also have won New England Tip-Off championship; hosted by Austine School for the Deaf. They will be facing a lot of hearing school this season. They will be going against more deaf schools this year, comparing to last year. For the first time, they will go against MSSD at our home court this February.

Our boys' head coach is John Monahan; assistant coach is David DelPizzo. Our captains have been undecided, but that didn't stop me from interviewing. I decided to interview those three players who have been on the team for the longest time. Those players are Wilson Velez (Junior), Justin Carrus (Junior), and Ben Letendre (Sophomore). I have interviewed them with the same thing I asked the girls' team's co-captains: their feeling and thoughts of their team, the goals of the girl's team and improvements they need. One of them said that the team has much better potential than last year; they have developed better relationship between each other. They understood the concept of what the word 'team' really means. From last season, they didn't really act like a real team; we went through several incidents. Anyways, they mentioned that their biggest goal is to have a better season comparing to last season. Also, they want to win the ESDAA Boys Division II championship. They also admitted that attitude and respect for each other in the team and outsiders is what they need to improve. They know that unity is one of most effects to a better team. So far we are doing good. They just won the New England Tip-Off Tournament championship at Austine School for the Deaf. Our record is 7 wins; they lost our first game after our six wins in a row to Cambridge School of Weston, an undefeated team so far. They won our eighth game against Austine School for the Deaf at our home court. As for the rest of the season, they will be facing mostly hearing school.

In conclusion, TLC's basketball teams are going on a roll so far. We hope to have a better record this season!