Another Bittersweet End To The Season: G8 Basketball Finals
Above: The team poses for a final photo, holding their Runner-Up trophy.
After an impressive 8-1 season, the G8 Non-Female-Identifying Basketball Team had made it to the finals. The big game was to be held on Monday, February 23rd, at Waldorf High School.
The night arrived, and people began slowly showing up. By the start of the first quarter, the stands were packed with fans eager to watch what would be the team’s last game together before the players’ graduation from New School.
Many of the players have been playing basketball with each other since second grade, and will now have to go their separate ways as high school looms. The significance of this game for both them and their coaches was obvious.
A NOTE ON POINT VALUES:
The quarter reports below provide a list of the points scored by both teams. We encourage you to remember that basketball is about so much more than points. Every player on New School’s team contributed to the game through assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, passes, and so much more.
In the points overviews, “SUM” refers to the points scored of that quarter and “TOTAL” refers to the total score (what the scoreboard was showing) at the quarter’s end.
WALDORF VS. NEW SCHOOL 2/23/2026
FIRST QUARTER
Above: The players line up before the opening jump ball and recite a pledge of sportsmanship.
The teams lined up and the game began. The first quarter was characterized by quick bursts of back-and-forth energy, with Waldorf making it clear right away that they were going to adopt a very fast-paced playing style throughout the game. New School’s good defense allowed them to take the lead, although for all its action this quarter ended up being the lowest-scoring.
Waldorf’s mere 3 points were scored entirely by their tallest and most dominant player, #34.
POINTS:
New School
Jack: 2
Spencer: 2
Quinn: 2
Waldorf
#34: 3
SUM: 6-3 NS
TOTAL: 6-3 NS
SECOND QUARTER
Above: New School’s Otis shoots (and makes) a free throw.
The second quarter featured much more scoring than the first, including a strong offensive performance from Waldorf. They pulled into the lead after making 14 points through a variety of players. #34 stepped down and created opportunities for #21 and #28 to make several successful shots from the mid-range. There was also more fouling during this quarter than the last, but even an increased amount of free throw opportunities did not help New School defend their lead.
POINTS:
New School
Quinn: 4
Otis: 1
Waldorf
#34: 2
#21: 6
#28: 5
#18: 1
SUM: 5-14 WLD
TOTAL: 11-17 WLD
THIRD QUARTER
Above: Waldorf played at an extremely fast pace throughout the game.
In this tense and fast-paced quarter, New School greatly diversified who was shooting, with new players entering the offensive game. Ollie had a series of incredible rebounds, both offensive and defensive. On the flip side, Waldorf’s #13 came out of nowhere and scored 5 points, increasing the team’s lead on New School. By the end of the quarter, the score was 17-25 in Waldorf’s favor, and the spectators were on the edges of their seats to see what would happen in the fateful fourth quarter.
POINTS
New School
Quinn: 2
Ollie: 2
Daschel: 2
Waldorf
#34: 1
#13: 5
#19: 2
SUM: 6-8 WLD
TOTAL: 17-25 WLD
FOURTH QUARTER
Above: The team’s final huddle with 1:25 left on the clock.
New School was not going to accept defeat without a fight, and they played a fiery and offensive-driven fourth quarter in order to reach for the win. Otis found his groove and became a key offensive force, making two baskets including an impressive “And One” (or successful basket directly after a foul) which boosted team morale. Ollie continued his strong rebounding.
On Waldorf’s side, #34 came back after a disappointing third quarter, balancing running down the clock with making baskets. New School fell victim to their well-placed defense on more than one occasion. With only 1 minute and 25 second left on the clock, and the scoreboard showing 20-29 Waldorf, the coaches called for New School’s last huddle ever (see above). The last minute and a half of the game passed in a blur, though New School managed to score four points in that short time. Waldorf scored three as well, making the game’s last moments some of its most action-packed.
POINTS:
New School
Quinn: 3
Otis: 4
Waldorf
#34: 5
#21: 2
SUM: 7-7 TIE
TOTAL/FINAL: 24-32
The game culminated in a 24-32 loss for New School. This is the second time in a row that New School’s G8 Non-Female-Identifying Basketball Team has made it to the finals but lost. Both games were very bittersweet ends to their respective seasons. You can learn more about last year’s G8 finals here. This article is intended as a direct sequel to that one.
Above: The final score at the end of the fourth quarter. New School is “Home,” Waldorf is “Guest.”
LEARN MORE
While you’re here, you might want to check out our guide to the players, interviews with Quinn and Coach DeVries, and a short feature on Coach Jarrod’s concluding speech, all below.
If you’re interested in learning more about the team’s road to the finals, check out this article about the semifinal game.
If you want to read the article this one is based on, about last year’s G8 Finals, you can check it out here.
MEET THE PLAYERS*:
DASCHEL C.
QUINN C.
JACK C.
OTIS H. W.
FELIX P.
SPENCER P.
DYAH R.
BENTON S.
OLLIE Y.
*Players are arranged in alphabetical order by last name, not by perceived skill level, popularity, or any other biased arrangement
INSIGHTS INTO THE TEAM: INTERVIEWS WITH COACH DEVRIES AND QUINN
The authors of this article personally interviewed Coach DeVries and Quinn, a New School player who scored points in each of the four quarters during the final. The following are the transcripts of these interviews:
WITH COACH DEVRIES:
What did it feel like to coach kids who are leaving New School next year?
“For me, it’s always bittersweet helping coach the 8th grade team. I love watching the kids grow as players and people from 6th to 8th grade, but it’s also sad knowing that it's the last time I’ll ever be able to coach them.”
When did you start coaching, and what inspired you to do so?
“I’ve coached since I started teaching, ten or eleven years ago. I’ve coached football and basketball. Why was I inspired to coach? Well, I played sports growing up, and I think they add value to our young lives. They’re an important part of childhood, and an important part of middle school.
What do you think New School’s team excelled at during Monday’s game?
“Teamwork. They really played together and followed the game plan, with good ball movement, and lots of sharing the ball.”
What do you think New School needed to work on during Monday’s game?
“[The] biggest challenge was the other team putting pressure on the ball handler, so not turning the ball over was difficult. Another challenge was definitely slowing down the pace. The other team played at an extremely fast pace, so that was a challenge.”
How do you run your practices?
“I think they’re mostly a combination of working on skills and working on scheme. Skills include getting better at shooting, dribbling, passing, and defense. Scheme is more like running plays, knowing positions, [and] improving court vision. How does the team react, do they press, do they do this? Practice is about taking those things and meshing them by practicing both skills and scheme in live action.
WITH QUINN:
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
“Yeah, I drink a Red Bull. It’s worked to help me win every game so far… except for the finals.”
Follow-Up: Did you drink a Red Bull before the finals?
“Yes, I did.”
Who is a teammate who you felt you worked especially well with in Monday’s game?
“Ollie or Otis. Ollie kept making great cuts and easy passes for layups, and Otis was coordinating a lot on the court.”
How will it feel to see your teammates leave New School?
“I’ll probably miss them, and miss being their teammates, but also I know that you can't really change the fact that they’re leaving.”
What was your favorite play of the game?
“I loved when Otis had the “And One,” even though it didn’t really change the outcome of the game. It was a great take.”
What do you work on the most during practices?
“Our plays, and running 3-on-2, 2-on-1 drills.”
Above: Red Bull, an energy drink enjoyed by Quinn of the New School team. He claims that it has helped him win games all season long.
A SENTIMENTAL ENDING: COACH JARROD’S INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH
Above: Coach Jarrod holding the “game ball,” a trophy given every game to a particularly distinguished player.
The events of the night ended with Coach Jarrod, a New School parent and one of the team’s coaches, giving a sentimental yet inspirational speech outside of the gym. It started by praising the talent and hard work put in by every player on the team, saying that “you can’t win them all.”
In a heartwarming twist halfway through the speech, Coach Jarrod broke the tradition of handing the “game ball” to a different player each game, instead “giving” it to everybody who had come to watch the game. He said that the strong New School community had played a key role in the team’s many successes, likening the relationship to soil helping a plant grow.
Above: Coach Jarrod highlights the importance of the New School community in all the team’s victories.
After all was said, the team and spectators put their hands together and cheered “New School,” celebrating another great season of New School basketball.
