By Alexis Hall, Sports Information Director

It was a tough and personal loss against Christ School in the second round of the NCISAA Playoffs for Country Day Boys Basketball Program Head Coach Carrier and his Bucs. Despite the end of season heartbreak, things went remarkably well for the Bucs this season.

Well, that might be an understatement.

Coach Carrier’s first year as a Buccaneer came at an unprecedented time, COVID-19 was peaking, masking was strict; all obstacles in relationship and team building. “The biggest difference this season is that we got to prepare in the off-season," Carrier said. "We played about 15 games this summer and had about 10 practices. We got to spend time together on and off the court. Summer was a time to get better, and our guys were committed to the process.” Carrier's first season ended with just one win on the books, however, strong bonds within the foundation began to cement and take hold despite these barriers.

The 2021–22 season gained momentum and the Bucs had exceptional wins, comebacks, and post-game celebrations. But there were also close losses, shots that didn’t fall, and not enough time on the clock. With this came the learning curve. The team went from being a few on the court to one swift offensive and defensive unit. The 3-point line became a familiar place, where the bench waited in anticipation, and driving under the basket became almost routine. “It is exciting to see how resilient our guys are…they never quit,” Carrier stated reflecting on the season. “There were at least four games we were down 15–20 points in the third or fourth quarter, and we came back to win and quite a few others where we either forced overtime or lost by a point or two…they are remarkable!”

The Bucs went from hoping to squeak out a win to critiquing the ways they could have performed more polished, more precise, more as a team. Coach told them to enjoy it nonetheless, and nonetheless, they did. “They were battle ready from day one," Carrier said. "Our seniors laid the foundation for years to come, the toughness and commitment never wavered.” As the season progressed, so did their trust in themselves and one another, each teammate celebrating the success of the others as much as their own. And just like that, the team’s success was bigger than any individual. The fight moved from one to a collective whole - the Bucs all on board the one ship they built together, their team.

This group made the turn for the program, finding their tempo, their rhythm, and creating a special tune their team beat to–with Coach Carrier pulling the strings. Sometimes you can learn more from a loss than a win, it can be the thing that sparks something indescribable. In December, the word Coach Carrier used as his team mantra was “fight,” by February, the word became “family.”

Along with securing a winning season and advancing in the NCISAA playoffs, growth took hold and the Bucs learned how to succumb or succeed, sink or swim, make it or break it.

Coach David Carrier
Boys Basketball Program Head

I have coached basketball for over 30 years and after the strange broken season last year, I just appreciated our players, coaches, trainers, parents, and athletic department more than ever. My biggest takeaway, honestly, is how lucky I am to be on this team."

Coach Carrier makes a point to make things personal. He simply creates space for his players so they can leave everything on the court in Bruton Smith Athletic Center on a Tuesday night. “I do not want to put any limitations on our program…'the ceiling is the roof’ as Michael Jordan famously said. I focus on building a culture of love, unselfishness, and hard work, which is more important than dribbling, passing, and shooting,” Carrier concluded. Things might not have been executed to perfection this season, but we are one step closer, and the growth is unmistakable. “There are no shortcuts…our players at Country Day are hungry and tough. Every day and every practice the guys emptied the tank,” Carrier said.

During the last home game in Bruton Smith Athletic Center, the Bucs were able to celebrate and give thanks to our two seniors, Daven Murphy and Thomas Calame. The two became the guide the Bucs needed this season, on and off the court. “Daven and Thomas were the perfect leaders for our team. They are best friends and share so many qualities—unselfish, humble, tough, dedicated, passionate, and confident,” Carrier said. Their ability to become mentors was a win in Carriers’ eyes, and maybe one of the sweetest all season long. “The worst thing about the season being over is not our playoff loss, but knowing this team is losing Thomas and Daven—I love those guys.”

Carrier summed up the season stating, “there was never a time when we mailed it in, we fought every day, and competed every day. We improved so much as the season went on. Through it all, this team stuck together and believed in each other. I think we are building something special at Country Day.”

There are things more important than winning because there are many ways one can win. You know you won the season when it is hard to walk away, when you aren’t ready for the last game to truly be the last, and when you wish you had just one more practice, one more starting lineup, just one more. With that said, the boys’ basketball program had a personal championship this season, with no chance of an upset.

There is already something special built at Country Day, and that is family.