Martlets Fall to DA

Historic Deerfield played host to the Big Green and the Martlets in the final contest before the holiday break, and from the outset it was clear that size would be the story of the afternoon. Deerfield’s interior presence loomed large, quite literally, controlling the glass to the tune of a 44–13 rebounding advantage over the course of the game. For Westminster, Aidan O’Callaghan  ‘26, Kareum Skovron-Rasheed ‘29, Liam Hibbard ‘27, and Sonny Darnowski ‘28 all made their first starts in Black and Gold. Of that group, Hibbard stood out with his most complete performance of the season, attacking the rim with purpose, defending effectively on the perimeter, and flashing the kind of lateral quickness that betrays his all-star tennis baseline pedigree. Calvin Bixby ‘28 set the competitive tone. The pride of Essex spent the day harassing Deerfield’s guards, forcing turnovers, but his real value was in the fight he brought possession after possession. He led the Martlets with four points, but his impact extended well beyond the box score. In the end, Deerfield’s size proved too much to overcome on its home floor. Still, there was progress evident for Westminster. Compared to a week ago, the Martlets showed tangible improvement in physicality, execution, and on-court communication, small but meaningful steps in the right direction. Black and Gold will look to build on that growth when they resume play after the holiday break, traveling next to rival Avon.