Not too many positives can be drawn from a game in which the losing team squanders a 25-point lead. Trevor Day School seems to have found one, though.
Freshman Elijah Frater is a force to be reckoned with.
Frater scored 30 points as Trevor Day was defeated by Columbia Prep, 73-71, in the NYCAL championship game at the City College of New York. Although he is the youngest player on the team, and the only underclassman, Frater is already its leader.
“He’s obviously a good player, but I can’t begin to tell you how good he is off the court,” Trevor Day head coach Lyle Friess said. “He has this natural vibrancy that others feed off of. What makes this kid special isn’t his individual ability; he makes other people around him better.
“It’s not just basketball,” the coach added. “It’s every facet of his life.”
He showed composure that many seniors do not have, something that was evident when he came to the line down two points with 21 seconds remaining against Columbia Prep. Frater nailed both free throws in a situation that would appear nervewrecking. But not for the young freshman.
“Coach told us to go into every game like it’s our last,” Frater said, “and that’s what I was doing there, that’s how I stay composed. I know my role for this team and that’s what I have to do.”
Frater, who Friess says was the most popular kid the day he stepped foot in Trevor Day, is wise beyond his years. Fresh off seeing his team lose a commanding lead in the championship game, Frater did not hang his head. He explained that the loss is already in the team’s rearview mirror, and they are looking forward, not back.
“Tomorrow we come into the gym and we work hard in practice,” Frater said. “We can’t focus on the past; whoever we play next, that’s who we have to focus on beating”
This lost doesn’t change anything for Trevor Day and its star freshman guard. They all expressed trust in each other and how this loss has done nothing but bring them closer.
Trevor Day (15-9), after all, will play Portledge next in a play-in game in the NYSAISAA Class C tournament. Their coach had a message for his team afterwards.
“This wasn’t our last game,” Friess said. “Only a couple teams have the chance to win their last game of the season,and that’s what we’re looking to do. We’re focused on that state championship.”
