Montrose School Basketball Repeats as IGC Champions

History repeated itself for the varsity basketball team this season.

The Montrose Mavericks entered the 2011-2012 season with a championship title to defend, and they guarded it fiercely. A year ago, the varsity basketball team went into the Independent Girls’ Conference (IGC) league championship game with an undefeated record and capped an unbeaten season when they took the championship title – defeating Woodward School, 61-50. For the first time in the school’s recent history, the varsity basketball team was league champion.

And they did it again this year.

The Mavericks finished the 2011-2012 regular season with a 13-1 record in the league and 14-4 overall. Their impressive season allowed them to clinch the first place seed for the IGC playoff tournament.

Montrose beat Brimmer & May School, 65-45 in the semi-final match-up on Feb. 14 and went on to challenge Gann School for the title on Feb. 16. Montrose won, 55-30.

Montrose's players played tough in that championship game, taking control of the court from the beginning, according to Montrose Athletic Director and coach Betsy McQuade. As a testament to the girls’ commitment to teamwork, each player on the team scored and some even had their best games of the year.

"We have a team whose strength lies in each player's ability to work together and play at a consistently intense level," said McQuade. "There isn't one girl running the show and scoring all the points. Rather the points are spread out among each member of the team. We are a passing team and score points off of great plays that involve the ball moving between all five girls on the court. We are also a deep team - every single player contributes."

Varsity basketball is not the only Montrose athletic team that has enjoyed championship success and a demonstrated commitment to teamwork. The school’s varsity soccer team earned the Independent Girls’ Conference (IGC) league championship title after an intense, final game against Brimmer & May School this past fall.

Like basketball, McQuade credited the 15-2 soccer season and the championship win to the consistent effort on the part of her players to work as a team.

“The championship game was a testament to how much our season depended on teamwork," McQuad said. We needed girls all over the field to step up, contribute and give 110 percent. And they did. From our goalie making incredible saves and keeping her cool in the shootout, to our forwards working together to score off multi-player plays, the game was won because everyone contributed.”

The Montrose varsity lacrosse team has been a league powerhouse for years, taking championship titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010. The team took second in the league in 2011. The school has sent star lacrosse players off to compete at Division I schools such as Stanford University and Siena College as well as Division III schools such as Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

The next step for Montrose’s varsity basketball team is the competitive New England Prep School Athletics Council (NEPSAC) Class D tournament, an honor for which Montrose basketball, soccer and lacrosse teams have been selected and invited for the past three years.

Participation in NEPSAC puts Montrose on the map as a leading school among prep schools throughout New England for athletics. In soccer, basketball and lacrosse, Montrose has received honors in the NEPSAC each year, including invitations to the selective NEPSAC tournament (eight schools selected out of 50 schools in a class). The Council has also recognized individual Montrose athletes as NEPSAC All-Stars.

“Going to NEPSAC for independent schools is like going to states for public schools. It is a big deal,” said McQuade. “The girls deserve it. They work hard all season.”

Located on 14 acres in downtown Medfield, Montrose School is an independent preparatory day school with a Catholic tradition, for girls in grades 6-12. Montrose students come from over 45 towns and communities in MetroWest and the South Shore as well as international students from all over the world, including Chile, China, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, Peru and Spain. To learn more, visit: www.MontroseSchool.org.