Q&A With Acton-Boxborough Varsity Basketball Coach Rick Kilpatrick

With only four games left before playoffs, the division one boys’ varsity Acton Boxborough Colonials basketball team has an exceptional record of 16 wins and 2 losses. Coach of the varsity basketball Colonials for 14 years, Rick Kilpatrick, is exceptionally proud of his team this season.

Here is a Q&A session with coach Kilpatrick:

Who are the big rivals this season?

“Westford is one of our big rivals, so there is always a little extra importance on a game like that. Lincoln-Sudbury is another big rival for traditional reasons. Obviously all games are important, but those games seem to have a little more added importance to the players and the fans.”

How do your players handle the pressure that comes along with a winning team?

“They have had a little added pressure on them because last year we had a great year and we had 20 wins and 4 losses and we won the league. This team has just done a great job of not succumbing to pressure and just playing. One of the things that stands out with this team is that they are a very close-knit group of players. They all generally like each other on and off the court – you can just see it. They play well with each other and they enjoy being around each other and even in the biggest moments, they are very relaxed – more relaxed than their coach.”

Who are the key players this season?

“Our two senior captains, Sam Longwell and Wes Schroll, are both our two best players but they are also great leaders. They both have been on varsity for three years and they are just what high school athletes are supposed to be. They are very good athletes, they are gentlemen, they are honor roll students, they are good teammates, positive role models and I am going to really miss them a lot after this season."

Who sticks out in your mind as an up-and-coming key player?

“This is Joey Flannery’s (as a junior) first year on varsity and he has stepped in from junior varsity last year and has started every game this year. He just seems to be getting better and better. and it is just really fun as a coach to watch the potential to succeed in an individual like Joey.”

What are your thoughts about the excited student crowds that attend the games?

“Really, since the middle of last season our student fan support is as good as I can ever remember it being. We had an away game against Westford Academy last week and we had a huge number of fans turn out that night. I think the players really feed off their energy. It has made for a great environment and it is something that the students really love to be a part of.  As a coach, you can’t really ask for more than that.”

How has this season been rewarding to you?

“It has definitely been an extremely rewarding season and again, to the kids' credit, I think one of the things that has been the most gratifying to me about this season is how the players have faced high expectations from the beginning and how they have dealt with it in such a mature focused way and they haven’t let anything get to them. That’s not easy for adults, let alone for kids. That is one of the things about this crew that I am going to remember most.”