Loomis Chaffee boys varsity basketball pulled out a gritty 68–65 win over Deerfield Academy on the road on Wednesday, December 10, rallying late to erase a tough second-half stretch and finish strong. 

The Pelicans controlled play for most of the first half, attacking the rim and defending well to take a 10-point lead into halftime. They pushed the margin to 13 early in the second half, but Deerfield capitalized on a string of turnovers and slow transition defense to climb back into the game. Deerfield eventually moved ahead and held a five-point lead with 1:30 left in the game. 

Loomis answered. Sophomore Luca Balducci (25 points), senior Ardon West (20 points), and senior Mert Göçer came up with key buckets and stops in the final minute, trimming the deficit to one before Mert hit a crucial shot to take back the lead. The Pelicans held firm on the defensive end in the closing seconds to protect the three-point edge and close out the 68–65 win in front of a loud Deerfield crowd. 

Next up, the team plays Avon Old Farm at home on Friday, December 12, at 4:45 p.m.