As the NEPSAC season nears the playoffs in a few weeks, Cushing is playing its best basketball of the season.
The Penguins have been one of the best teams in New England this winter, and now they have a championship to show for it. Cushing was crowned the 2024-25 champion of the New England Basketball League (NEBL) with Saturday’s 66-65 victory over New Hampton; it’s a significant accomplishment given the high-level competition of the NEBL, and for head coach James Cormier, it’s a testament to how connected his group has become over the last three-plus months.
“I’m super proud of the guys, just the way they’ve come together and the way they’ve grown,” Cormier said. “I think from the start of the year until now, our team has taken pride in the better every day mantra. We’re significantly better than we were at the start of the season.”
Cushing’s growth and connectivity was shown in the way it won this championship. The Penguins went 6-0 in NEBL play, which included three wins that came by four points or less. Cormier thinks the way his team thrives in late-game and close situations has come down to a handful of factors.
