by Julie Gowel ·
Friday, March 6, 2026
The Bromfield boys varsity basketball team ended their playoff run on Sunday, March 1, in a game against the New Heights Charter School from Brockton. While the 89-56 loss was disappointing, the fact that the Trojans got to play a second playoff game was momentous. The last time Bromfield moved past the first round in a basketball postseason was 14 years ago, in 2012.
On Sunday, the Trojans played at Bridgewater-Raynham High School because the New Heights Charter School was still digging out from the 31 inches of snow Brockton received during the late February storm. While Bromfield was able to keep New Heights on their toes for the first half of the game, it wasn’t enough to secure a second win.
The first game of the postseason had Bromfield beating Lunenburg 63–62 on their home court on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Parking was nearly as competitive as the game itself, due to snow and a large turnout for the home team. The Trojans battled a relentless opponent, a roaring student section, and a fourth quarter that tested every ounce of composure they had.
The first-round victory over Lunenburg was, in head coach Anne McWaters’ words, “everything you could ask for in a playoff game.” Heading into the match, the Knights were ranked 24 in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association division four, while the Trojans were ranked 41.
“We knew it was going to be a great game and that Lunenburg expected to win,” said McWaters in a postgame interview with the Press. “I told the team to play with freedom and confidence.”
The Trojans were prepared, having studied film, chosen defensive matchups, and practiced strategy ahead of the game. Senior Jake O’Neil led the charge with 25 points, including clutch free throws and a pivotal late 3-pointer. Sophomore Isaac Balicky’s shooting kept momentum on Bromfield’s side throughout, and the Trojans’ defense forced tough shots when it mattered most.
The game’s final seconds tested every nerve in the gym. With Bromfield clinging to a one-point lead and just 6.4 seconds remaining, what looked like a potential foul instead became a jump ball awarded to Lunenburg.
“I was a little shocked,” McWaters admitted. “I called a timeout to calm everyone down and tell them we just had to play good, solid defense, not foul, and not let them get a good shot.”
Lunenburg inbounded to a strong 3-point shooter, but junior Noah Petrossi played tight defense, forcing an off-balance attempt. Bromfield secured the rebound as the buzzer sounded.
“It was such a happy moment,” McWaters said. “The elation of coming in as the much lower seed and winning on a high seed’s home court in a hard-fought game; it’s a special thing.” Postgame celebration included a water and Gatorade bath for McWaters, and an impromptu team dinner on the way home.
Sunday’s matchup against New Heights Charter School Phoenix came with an entirely new set of challenges. New Heights was the No. 9 seed in the MIAA power rankings, putting the Trojans 32 places behind.
“They had some really big post players,” said McWaters, referring to one 6-foot, 8-inch tall player. She added, “The trouble was that they had multiple athletic options.”
The game opened with promise. O’Neil knocked down a three just a minute in. Senior Owen Balsis followed with another from beyond the arc, and Petrossi added one of his own. The Trojans moved the ball crisply, capitalizing on New Heights’ tendency not to close out aggressively on shooters.
“The game started off well for us because our threes were falling,” McWaters said. “We moved the ball well and found the guys that were open.”
New Heights answered quickly with long passes, transition layups, and a dunk that ignited their bench. Bromfield trailed 20–15 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second, the gap stretched. Despite strong efforts by O’Neil with a block, a steal from Balsis, and tough defense from juniors Alex Senykoff and Jonathan LeGrand, the Phoenix athleticism began to wear on the Trojans. Bromfield went into halftime down 42–34.
“We were slow coming out of halftime and they came at us hard,” McWaters said of the second half of the game. “Our guys were giving everything they had. It was just a really physical game against a very athletic team and it took a lot out of our players.”
O’Neil, who battled throughout, finished the game with a broken nose. The Trojans continued to fight, with LeGrand hitting a buzzer-beating three at the end of the third, but New Heights depth and speed proved overwhelming. With four minutes remaining, Bromfield trailed by more than 20. The final score was 89–56.
Despite the loss, McWaters said she was most proud of the team’s growth throughout the season. The Trojans will graduate key senior leadership, including O’Neil and Balsis, and Josh Pelak, whose composure and competitiveness shaped the team’s late-season surge.
“The experience the underclassmen got in playoff basketball will be invaluable,” McWaters said. “I think the sky is the limit next year.”