After an 80-67 win against McNamara on Monday, DeMatha’s 2025-26 JV basketball season officially ended. It was a strong year for the Stags, for both development and team success. DeMatha went 14-5, with a 7-5 record in conference play.
The Stags dominated non-conference teams as they went 7-0 with highlight wins coming against Sidwell Friends (75-24 on December 18) and South River (99-46 on January 17). The team also performed well in conference play, getting key wins against Bishop O’Connell (73-65 on January 13), St. Mary’s Ryken (85-22 on January 20), and Gonzaga (79-63 on February 7). Among their losses were nail biters against St. John’s (59-54 on December 20) and Paul VI (62-53 on February 3).
Head coach Jeffrey Eaton set the tone for the season early. “Our motto for the year was to approach everything we did in practice and games with energy, effort, and enthusiasm.” And that was clear from the get-go. The hustle and speed the team played with allowed them to run circles around their opponents all season. Fighting for every rebound, every loose ball, and pushing fast breaks. Sophomore Ryan Culfogienis attended several games and noted the team’s energy and speed. “The other teams just couldn’t keep up.”
The key factor that put this team above their competition was their chemistry, and it was very apparent when watching their games. Making the extra pass, finding the open man, the team almost always played on the same frequency. Sophomore Ethan Michel emphasized the bond this team had on and off the court. “While most of the team bonding has happened in the gym, a good amount happened during school, whether it’s passing in the halls, being in the same classes, or hanging out during lunch.”
JV is an important step for players to hone and refine their skills, to build chemistry with their teammates, and develop a strong work ethic. Overall, it was a promising year for the Stags and the future looks particularly promising for the future of DeMatha basketball.