Kingswood Oxford marked a milestone on the weekend of Dec. 14-16, when it hosted 13 different New England schools for the 50th Kingswood Invitational Tournament, named for its late founder, Paul W. “Frosty” Francis, a longtime teacher, basketball coach and administrator at the school.
“The KIT has always been representative of the finest ideals of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and respect,” said KO Athletic Director Sue Cabot. “And this year it was especially evident that the KIT represents something larger than basketball and competition. Coaches, teams, and fans renewed friendships and really worked together throughout the weekend.”
The KIT began on a somber note with news of the tragedy in Newtown. Head of School Dennis Bisgaard asked the crowd to pause in silence, out of sorrow and respect, before the 7pm game on Friday night. “Our hearts are broken for all those most closely hurt by this senseless tragedy,” he said in a statement. “I know all of our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.”
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The tournament champions -- Governor’s Academy on the girls’ side, and Cheshire Academy for the boys -- were crowned on Sunday afternoon. Governor’s (Byfield, MA) beat Hamden Hall 56-40, and Cheshire beat Canterbury (New Milford, CT), 68-61.
A highlight of the tournament was the presentation of a 50th KIT commemorative basketball to Susan Francis McCarthy '82 of Medfield, MA. One of the daughters of Frosty Francis, Sue played in the KIT herself and is responsible for the participation of a third generation of the Francis family: Her son John McCarthy, a guard on the Noble and Greenough team, was named to the KIT All-Tournament team.
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Several KO students – including Grace Gentile ’15, Amanda Pratt ’13, and a boys’ a cappella group, The Crimson Seven – either sang the National Anthem or performed during halftimes throughout the KIT weekend.
The results of the other brackets were as follows:
Third Place (Boys): Nobles beat St. Luke’s, 52-22
Third Place (Girls): Watkinson beat KO, 58-38
Consolation (Boys): Governor’s beat KO, 62-39
Consolation (Girls): Rye Country Day beat Convent of Sacred Heart, 57-43
