It is difficult to convince ninth and tenth grade boys that they played a good game when the final score does not reflect it. However, our group played one their best games today and showed resiliency, courage and competitiveness. We began the game today without two of our starters: one who has been our most versatile player all season and the other our best scoring guard on the team. This is the game we needed those two most but injury and outside commitments kept them out of today's affair. This meant other players on the team had to step up and play more minutes against the best team we face during the season. Pingree came out the gate with lights out shooting and Middlesex was down 10 points early in the first half. Though Pingree continued to play and shoot well, Middlesex gained composure and made a slow and steady come back the first half. During the beginning of the second half, Middlesex pulled within one point of Pingree with the game Pingree 28 Middlesex 27. Pingree switched immediately to a full court press and took advantage of our some MX players not used to handling a press. As presses are meant to do, Pingree gained quick buckets and went up 40 to 27. The game was sealed from that point on for Pingree. M. Petrie had a career day scoring 11 points and playing his most physical game in his thirds career. D. Wong and J. Dichter finished with 6 points each to follow Petrie. R. Hoffman saw his most significant minutes of the year, grabbed a key rebound and earned a trip to the charity stripe - his first time having a scoring opportunity all season. K. Long continues to be our most physical force on defense and in the paint.