Skip To Main Content

Toggle Close Container

Mobile Search

Mobile Main Nav

Mobile Utility

Header Holder

Header Right Column

Open Search Overlay

Header Utility Nav

Toggle Menu Container

Search Canvas

Close Canvas Menu

Desktop Search

Sticky Header

Open Search Overlay - Sticky

Toggle Menu Container - Sticky

Apply BTN

Horizontal Nav

Girls' Basketball

A female basketball player dribbles the ball down the court in a gymnasium with spectators and banners in the background.

 

Rising to the Challenge:
A Program on the Move

The Milton Academy girls’ basketball program is currently in an era of exciting transformation and upward momentum. Competing in the Independent School League (ISL)—one of the most rigorous and talented conferences in the Northeast—the Mustangs are establishing a new standard of excellence across New England. The 2025–2026 season marked a historic turning point, as the team won seven more games than the previous year and qualified for the Class A playoffs for the first time in over a decade. With marquee victories over perennial powerhouses and historically dominant programs, Milton has earned its place as a respected competitor on the court.

Our program thrives within Milton's unparalleled diversity, bringing together student-athletes from across the globe to form a cohesive, inclusive community. We seek student-athletes who are eager to embrace our #EarnIt mentality—a belief that greatness is never given, but built through consistent effort. By carrying the school’s signature open-dialogue learning style from the classroom to the hardwood, we encourage our players to be vocal leaders and active participants in our collective success.

A basketball player in a dark blue jersey leaps to shoot while two opponents in white jerseys defend, with spectators and gym equipment visible in the background.
A group of female basketball players in uniform clap on a polished court with a blurred stadium background.
In the foreground, young female basketball players in blue and white uniforms are actively playing a game, while the background shows a blurred stadium with spectators and advertisements.

Divider Athletic

Schedule & Results

1st Team

Athletics RSS Feeds
Opponent Date Time Location Result Alerts
There are no events to display

Girls' Basketball 
LIVE STREAM

Milton Academy Girls Basketball home games are streamed live — bringing the full game-day experience directly to you, whether you're a family member following from afar or a fan looking to see the Mustangs in action.

In the foreground, several young women in navy blue volleyball uniforms cheer with open mouths and raised arms, while the background features a bright orange and blue wall.

PACC & Team Philosophy

The Milton girls’ basketball experience is anchored by four standards of excellence known as PACC: Positivity, Accountability, Communication, and Competitiveness. We believe that winning doesn't start around you—it begins inside you—and we are committed to developing the "whole person" for success long after their final game. Our mission is to help our players mature into confident, successful women by carrying the school’s signature open-dialogue learning style from the classroom to the hardwood. We are firm believers that the "student" comes first in student-athlete, and we provide the guidance necessary for our players to reach their full academic potential while equipping them with essential life skills learned through elite competition.

To be successful in our system, players must be "sponges" for the game, ready to learn their roles and execute them with poise under the principle that the "herd" is always bigger than any one individual. We emphasize mental preparation and basketball IQ, fostering a "team-first" attitude where unselfishness is the foundation of our success. Because a connected team is a winning team, we prioritize the mental health and social bonds of our players through unique traditions like our "Beyond Basketball" series, annual Players vs. Faculty games, and mid-winter snowman-making contests. By maintaining peak physical condition and exhibiting a high degree of energy and enthusiasm, we play an exciting brand of basketball that prepares our athletes to lead in the world.

A young female basketball player in the foreground prepares to shoot a free throw, while other players and spectators are visible in the background of the gymnasium.

A Pathway for 
Every Player

Opportunities: 1st Team, 2nd Team, 3rd Team

Milton Girls Basketball offers a comprehensive three-team structure at the high school level, ensuring every student has a place to compete and grow — from elite competitors to those just beginning their basketball journey. Regardless of level, every player receives dedicated coaching and access to premier facilities.

Off the court, we prioritize the whole person through traditions like our "Beyond Basketball" series, annual Players vs. Faculty games, and team-building events that reinforce the social bonds and mental health practices that make our program more than just basketball. At Milton, we provide the foundation for our athletes to lead and succeed in all areas of their lives.

Boston Garden Reel: The TD Garden Experience

A basketball player in a blue jersey with the number 3 dribbles the ball in the foreground, while blurred spectators and a scoreboard are visible in the background.
In the foreground, a group of young women in navy basketball uniforms walk across a polished court, while in the background, spectators fill the bleachers of an arena.
A young basketball player in a blue jersey with the number 1 on it shoots a ball in the foreground, while blurred figures and a basketball hoop are visible in the background of a dimly lit arena.

Divider Athletic

Coaching Staff

Dan Norton

Head Coach

Coach Norton brings a wealth of experience from both the collegiate and elite prep levels to the Milton Academy Girls Varsity Basketball program, with a history at the Academy spanning over a decade as an assistant coach and head JV coach before taking the helm of the varsity program.

His coaching track record includes six seasons as Girls Varsity Coach at Abington High School, where he earned Coach of the Year honors three times — from the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association, the South Shore League, and Wicked Local — along with additional tenures at Anna Maria College, Fitchburg State University, Fontbonne Academy, and Pembroke High School.

Beyond the high school season, Coach Norton is a prominent figure in the national grassroots basketball landscape. As President of the MT Elite Ducks AAU program — one of the few organizations in Massachusetts to compete on the Under Armour circuit — he has grown the program from a single squad into a powerhouse of 41 teams with over 150 college alumni across all divisions, a network he puts directly to work for Milton student-athletes pursuing the next level.

A graduate of Anna Maria College, Coach Norton believes his greatest strength as a mentor is building player confidence, instilling selflessness, and developing mental toughness through a "tough but loving" coaching style — three qualities he views as the primary drivers of success both on the court and in life.

A male coach in the foreground with his hands clasped and mouth open in a shout, stands before a blurred background of female athletes and a blue wall.

JJ Kelleher III

Assistant Coach

Coach Kelleher brings over 15 years of coaching experience across the youth, high school, and collegiate levels to the Milton Academy Girls Basketball program. An enthusiastic communicator and disciplined teacher of the game, he is passionate about the process of competition and the relentless pursuit of improvement — a philosophy he has formalized into the EARN IT framework that anchors his work at Milton:

E — Elite Lifestyle: Maintaining disciplined, consistent action academically, athletically, and socially.

A — Ardent Approach: Bringing deep enthusiasm and passion to every session.

R — Relentless Pursuit: Giving 100% daily to gain 1% of improvement, constantly raising the ceiling.

N — Nekton Mentality: Staying in a state of constant attack — always moving, never satisfied.

I — Invest in the Truth: Aligning with Milton's mission to "Dare to be True."

T — Toughness: Developing the mental and physical persistence to perform at a high level regardless of challenges or failures.

A graduate of St. Joseph's College, Coach Kelleher served as a four-year captain of the Monks' Cross Country team and, in a remarkable display of mental toughness, earned a spot on the active men's basketball roster his senior year despite never having played organized high school basketball — a personal embodiment of the Team over Me philosophy he brings to Milton every day. He graduated on a pre-med track with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.

His coaching career began at Newbury College, where as an assistant the program achieved historic success — winning the New England and Eastern Regionals, reaching the National Final Four, and earning the highest cumulative GPA in program history. Most recently, he served as an assistant at Rockland High School, helping lead the Bulldogs to a 73–14 record over four seasons and multiple state semifinal appearances.

Molly Purcell

Assistant Coach

Coach Purcell serves as an assistant coach for the Milton Academy Girls Varsity Basketball program and as an Associate Athletic Director — bringing a multi-sport perspective that extends to the varsity field hockey and girls lacrosse programs as well.

A standout student-athlete at the University of New England, Coach Purcell competed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference at the NCAA level, where she was recognized for her leadership, tactical intelligence, and team-first approach. That firsthand experience navigating collegiate athletics makes her an invaluable resource for Milton players working through the college recruitment process.

At Milton, Coach Purcell focuses on defensive strategies and individual skill development. Her presence across three sports and in the athletic office allows her to build deep, mentorship-based relationships with student-athletes throughout the year — ensuring they maintain the balance between elite athletic performance and the high academic standards that define a Milton education.

Divider Athletic

A huddle of young women in navy basketball uniforms with their arms around each other on a green court, with blurred spectators in the background.

Honors & Awards

The Milton Academy girls’ basketball program takes immense pride in the collective and individual achievements of our student-athletes. Our honors reflect a commitment to high-level competition in the Independent School League (ISL) and the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). We celebrate the hard work, character, and skill that our players bring to the court every day, recognizing that their success is built on a foundation of teamwork and shared standards.

Program Milestones
 

NEPSAC Class A Post-Season Tournament Qualifier: 2024–2025, 2025-2026

Marquee Victories: Notable wins over four straight Class A champion Loomis, win over Class A final four team Andover, win over highly ranked St. George’s, multiple wins vs Exeter.

Individual Accolades & Historical Success

test

Season Highlights

Three smiling young women in basketball uniforms are in the foreground, with a blurred basketball court and spectators in the background.
In the foreground, a basketball player in a dark uniform shoots the ball while two opponents in white uniforms attempt to block her, and in the background, spectators watch the game from the bleachers.

Divider Athletic

Mustangs at the Next Level

Milton Academy Girls Basketball is dedicated to preparing student-athletes for success at the collegiate level and beyond. Our graduates carry the lessons of hard work, selflessness, and resilience into some of the most competitive academic and athletic environments in the country — and they remain a vital part of the Mustang family long after they leave campus.

We are proud of every former player who continues her journey on the court and in life, and we encourage all alumni to stay connected and share their updates as they go on to make their mark.​​​​

College Pipeline:

 

Reagan Vaughan, 26’ Wesleyan University

Ella Trefethen, ‘26, Smith College

 

Maddi Basterretxea ’24, New Jersey City University

Claire Candela ’23, Brandeis University

The image displays the word %22Bowdoin%22 in a bold, stylized font against a plain white background.
The image displays the text %22BOSTON UNIVERSITY%22 in large, bold white letters against a bright red background.
A circular crest with Latin text and a shield is on the left, while the words %22BOSTON COLLEGE%22 in large, light brown letters are on the right.
The image depicts a heraldic shield with a black and white design, featuring a crown-like symbol at the top and the word %22BROWN%22 written below.
The image displays the text %22Columbia University in the City of New York%22 against a plain white background.
The image displays the word %22Colby%22 in a bold, stylized blue font against a plain background.
The image displays the iconic Harvard University logo, featuring the university's name in large text against a red and white background.
Georgetown University is prominently displayed in large blue text against a white background.
The image displays the logo of New York University, featuring the university's name in bold text against a purple background.
The image displays the Middlebury logo, which features a shield-shaped emblem with various academic and global symbols, along with the text %22Middlebury%22 and the year %221800%22 prominently displayed.
The image displays the logo of Northeastern University, featuring the letter %22N%22 and the text %22Northeastern University%22 in a bold, black font against a white background.
The image displays the text %22Northwestern University%22 in a bold, purple font against a white background.
The image displays the text %22PRINCETON UNIVERSITY%22 in bold, black letters against a plain white background.
The image displays the text %22Trinity College%22 in a bold, navy blue font against a plain white background.
The image displays the logo and name of The University of Chicago, featuring a maroon-colored emblem with a phoenix-like bird symbol.
The image displays the logo for Tufts University, featuring the word %22Tufts%22 in large blue letters against a lighter blue background.
The image displays the text %22Wesleyan University%22 in large black letters against a white background, with a small red number %221%22 in the top left corner.
The image displays the logo for Wake Forest University, featuring the university's name in large text along with a shield-shaped emblem.
The image displays the word %22Yale%22 in a bold, navy blue font against a plain background.
The image displays the Cornell University logo, which features a red shield-shaped emblem with the university's name prominently displayed in the center.