Vermont Academy Hoops NEPSAC Class AA Champs

SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. - March 8, 2016 - PRLog -- Vermont Academy's boys' varsity basketball team made school history on Sunday, March 6 by winning the Academy's first New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) Class AA title, defeating Cushing Academy 69 - 61. Rhode Island College's Murray Center exploded with cheers from Vermont Academy's devoted fans that made the trek to Providence to watch the Wildcats fight for the championship that eluded them last year.  But this year, this moment, belonged to Head Coach Alex Popp's Wildcats, a moment of sweet victory and the culmination of a focused, hard-fought journey.

"This win means the world to me because I witnessed how hard our student-athletes prepared," said Popp. "There's no doubt this team is special for their ability to stay committed day-in-and-day-out over a long season. They brought intensity to workouts, practices, and games that you don't often find in athletes their age. In sports and in life, you get what you put in, and we invested enough to be the last program standing in New England prep school basketball."

The match up between top-seeded Vermont Academy and second seed Cushing Academy was a much-anticipated one, and both fan bases came ready to keep their teams motivated. It was a physical game on both sides, with a lot of stuffs, scuffling under the boards, and steals so fast you didn't see them coming. Vermont Academy took a blow in the first half when starter Christian David '17 suffered a knee injury. Instead of losing momentum, the team bore down and renewed their focus on the mission at hand.

Both teams brought their best game, and at the half it was Vermont 29 - Cushing 28. Half time in the locker room saw Coach Popp emphasizing transition defense, rebounding, and playing together on both ends of the floor. The Wildcats responded and took decisive command of the second half. With 2:00 minutes to go, the Wildcats led by ten and never looked back.

Vermont Academy's Bruce Brown '16 was named the tournament MVP, throwing up 35 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists.  Brown, a Miami commit, is the consummate professional on the court, taking command and staying cool under pressure.

"My style of play is to play hard," said Brown. "I think after losing in the finals last year, we were really dedicated to making it happen this year. It was our time."

In only his second year as Head Coach for Vermont Academy, Coach Popp's philosophy is clearly a winning one. Last year the Wildcats tallied 24 wins and a trip to the NEPSAC finals against Tilton, who bested the Wildcats by five. Vermont Academy's record this year stands at 27 and 5, undefeated before their home crowd.

"We are so proud of our team and the NEPSAC Class AA title they brought home to Vermont Academy," said Chris Davidson, Athletic Director, Vermont Academy. "It is testament to the coaches' and players' hard work, along with team support from the entire community."

Recognized globally as the best high school league in the country, NEPSAC had seven players selected in the 2014 NBA Draft. Vermont Academy currently boasts two student-athletes in the Class of 2016 ESPN 100, more than any other program in its highly competitive conference, and the top ranked Class of 2017 prospect in Canada. All high-major programs, as well as the world-class Ivy League, whose emphasis on academic and athletic excellence aligns perfectly with its program goals, recruit VA Wildcats.

For more information about Vermont Academy Basketball, contact Coach Popp at apopp@vermontacademy.org.

Vermont Academy is a coed, independent boarding and day school located in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 and a postgraduate year. For more information or to schedule a campus visit, email admissions@vermontacademy.org.