Mixed pg 10 12-19-13

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Category: Current Issue

By Ron P. Coderre
The 2014 high school girls’ basketball season got underway with all five local schools seeing early season action with mixed results.  Putnam and Woodstock Academy who are playing under new coaches witnessed the debut of Putnam’s Mandy Hogan get off to a flying start, albeit her competition was weak, while Willie Bousquet’s first two games as the Woodstock’s coach ended in losses.  
Tourtellotte, under veteran coach Carla Faucher, earned a pair of opening victories; while Plainfield had a big win over perennial power Bacon Academy.  Killingly, which always seems to be in a rebuilding mode, lost its first two games of the season.
Tourtellotte and Putnam Open with Big Victories
The Tourtellotte Lady Tigers opened the season with a relatively easy win over tiny Parish Hill but it was the team’s second victory that raised the eyebrows of local basketball aficionados.  Traveling to Woodstock, a locale that Tourtellotte has a difficult time in putting up victories, the Lady Tigers held off the host Centaurs 37-30.
After jumping out to an 11-5 first period advantage, it looked like old times as Woodstock scored 11 second stanza points while holding Tourtellotte to a mere basket.  The spurt gave the Centaurs a 16-13 halftime lead, one that would dissipate in the final 16 minutes as TMHS outscored the Acads 24-14 for the final margin.
Jess Dodd, who was held scoreless in the first half, was the Lady Tigers catalyst as she scored 13 points in the second half propelling Faucher’s charges to the win.  She was the lone Tourtellotte player in double figures.  Woodstock was led by Taylor Littell with 10 points.  
Earlier in the week Tourtellotte handily defeated Parish Hill 45-26 as Dodd (14) and Allie Ablondi (15) combined for 29 points for the 2-0 Lady Tigers.
Woodstock couldn’t give Bousquet a victory in the opening week as it was also dropped by Windham 41-30 in a game that was closer than the final margin.  
The Putnam Lady Clippers opened the season with a CSC East Conference win over Ellis Tech in a game that nearly was an unusual shutout.  Putnam gave coach Mandy Hogan an early Christmas present with a 49-2 romp over the Lady Eagles.  Cynthia Briere with 17 points and Makenzi Kaylor with a dozen were the Putnam high scorers.
Plainfield with Adrienne Lorange providing the offense rolled past Bacon Academy 47-30.  Lorange led all scorers with 23 points including a pair of three-pointers.
Killingly suffered losses to Griswold,, 50-39 and New London, 63-29 in its first two games of the year.  Meagan Bianchi with 11 against the Wolverines and 21 against the Whalers was the lone bright spot for the Redgals.
Marianapolis Enjoying Early Success
Marianapolis under first year head coach Lauren Moore is off to a running start at 3-1.  The Lady Knights pulled off a stunning first round victory over host Worcester Academy in the 13th Thomas Blackburn Invitational Tournament, picking up a 52-40 win over the Hilltopers.
Utilizing primarily five players throughout the contest, each of the Marianapolis starters contributed to the victory, led by Nicole Viselli’s 14 points.  She was joined in double digits by Caroline Soucy (13) and Madison Springfield (11).  Jill Bodreau chipped in eight markers and Rachel Aho had six for the winners who trailed 24-23 at halftime.
The bassketball gods caught up with the Lady Knights in the finals as they were beaten by Tilton Academy 58-41.  Madison Springfield with 12 points and Jill Bodreau with 10 paced the Marianapolis offense.  Springfield and Nicole Viselli were named to the all-tournament team.
Earlier in the week the Lady Knights bested Thayer Academy 58-39 behind Aho’s 18 point performance and Springfield’s 14.
The MPS II unit continued to struggle at 0-4, losing a pair, 36-22 to Hyde-Woodstock and 59-28 to St. Andrew’s.  
In its other game, Hyde lost to Lincoln School 45-24.  Janicha Diaz was the Wolfpack’s leading scorer in each game, with 23 against Marianapolis and eight in the Lincoln loss.
Pomfret opened its season with a 58-50 win over Taft School as Mary Redmond had four 3-pointers in leading the Lady Griffins with 20 points.  She was joined in double figures by Juliette Lawless (17) and Alyzae Davis (13).  Loomis Chaffee jumped out to a 27-16 advantage at intermission and never looked back as it maintained the 11 point edge in beating visiting Pomfret 56-45.   Redmond (13), Davis (15) and Lawless (10) were 1-1 Pomfret’s leading scorers.