Photo: Girls’ Basketball after semifinal win over Arlington Catholic.
Dear Belmontonian:
I write to congratulate the members and coaches of Belmont High’s Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball teams for their fine seasons and appearances in the MIAA basketball tournament.
The boys’ finished a triumphant regular season as Middlesex League’s Liberty Division champions earning a first-round tournament bye before dropping a hard-fought game to Brighton High before a raucous home crowd.
The girls’, seeded 10th, advanced deep into the tournament, besting tough #7 Marblehead, #2 Newburyport and #3 Arlington Catholic teams along the way.
Last Saturday evening, a huge Belmont crowd attended the Girls Division 2 North finals against archrival Watertown. Belmontians from all walks of life, young, old, “townies,” “newbies,” liberal and conservative alike were there in unison supporting and cheering for our Belmont team. Events like this can galvanize a community, bringing everyone together in a common spirit regardless of cultural, ethnic or political differences, if only for a few hours. Disappointingly, Belmont’s girls’ lost the game decided in the final seconds but it was not from lack of effort.
Although our Marauder teams did not win the tournament, Belmont’s young men and women played hard to the end, played to the best of their ability and displayed good sportsmanship throughout.
While academics are high school’s primary purpose, the lessons displayed by our young men and women student-athletes are just as important. I witnessed discipline, selfless team play, perseverance, sacrifice, pride, integrity and sportsmanship played out on the courts. I watched them revel in victory and be humble and gracious in defeat. These valuable life lessons cannot be taught from a textbook, but must be experienced to be learned. From my perspective, they learned their lessons well.
Congratulations again to Belmont’s Varsity Basketball teams. They did their town, their school, their families, their friends and, most of all, themselves proud.
Stephen B. Rosales
Farnham Street
I agree. Great job done by all players and coaches.