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Thanks to tight defense from Adam Skaggs and Brian Russell in the final moment, Phillips prevented a final shot and held on to defeat neighboring rival Brooks 48-46. Skaggs added a team-high 12 points.

Freshman Thomas Palleschi of Haverhill continued a string of strong performances as Phillips topped Rivers, 72-48. The 6-8 center scored a game-high 17 points and was joined in double figures by teammates Khalid McCaskill (14 points) and Zach Burdeau (12 points). Palleschi has now reached double figures in six of the last seven games.

Phillips Academy's boys basketball team, after losing its first four games, won its fourth in the last five yesterday, 76-65 over Kimball Unon. The Big Blue, who had four players in double figures, zoomed to a  45-26 halftime lead and never looked back.

The Big Blue drained eight shots from beyond the arc as Phillips Academy beat Governor's Academy 71-65. Zach Burdeau paced Phillips with 16 points and two 3-pointers. Thomas Palleschi netted 16 points of his own. Khalid McCaskill and Brian Russell were both in double figures.

Adam Skaggs free throw with 15 seconds left snapped the game's final tie and gave Phillips Academy its second straight win, 57-56 over Tabor. Zach Burdeau led the Big Blue (2-5) with 13 points while Brian Russell and Skaggs each had 11 points. Phillips overcame a 33-25 halftime deficit to pull out the win.

Junior Khalid McCaskill led the team with 15 points (including four 3-pointers), but it wasn't enough as Phillips Academy boys basketball fell to Loomis Chaffee, 63-47. Brian Russell chipped in with 11 points, but a well-balanced Loomis Chaffe attack (four players in double digits) was too much for the Big Blue to handle.

Cushing spoiled Phillips Academy's season opener, beating them 61-53 and sending the Big Blue to an 0-1 start to the 2008-09 season.

Said coach Leon Modeste, "It was a physical game and we just didn't execute. We have to allow less second-chance shots."