Centaurs f pg 6 11-2-23
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Quarterback Teddy Richardson takes off for some of his 107 yards in just 12 carries and four rushing touchdowns against Bethel.Photo by Abby Ditzel/Woodstock Academy.
Centaurs post
win on Senior
Day over Bethel
The Achilles’ heel for the Woodstock Academy football team this season has been the second half.
The Centaurs, due to depth and size, can be worn down by opponents.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the case on Saturday in a 41-24 win over non-league foe, Bethel.
Although head coach and athletic director Sean Saucier was admittedly a bit concerned early in that second half.
The Centaurs owned a 21-3 halftime lead but fumbled on their first possession of the second half at their own 42-yard line.
Four plays later, including a couple of plays for losses, Wildcat quarterback Gianluca Baia hit Enzo Marin with a 46-yard touchdown toss to cut the deficit to 12.
“The momentum started to swing and it started to feel familiar to some of the struggles we had earlier but, then (quarterback) Teddy (Richardson) and (offensive coordinator) Connor (Elliot) were able to put together a great sustained drive that took a decent amount of time. We were able to march down the field and put one in and, at that point, we felt pretty secure that we were in control,” Saucier said.
Indeed, the Centaurs (3-4) started at their own 28 and moved methodically upfield with a pair of big plays doing the most damage.
A personal foul on a 20-yard run by Eric Mathewson (17 carries, 79 yards) helped the Centaurs get deep inside Bethel territory and a 20-yard pass from Richardson to Aiden Brailsford got them inside the 10.
Three plays later, Richardson dived into the end zone from a yard out.
It was the third touchdown of the game for Richardson who finished with 107 yards in rushing and scored a touchdown in each quarter.
“He was very persistent, ran the ball well, and we did a lot of zone read stuff with him. He made some good reads and some good pulls and found a lot of green turf. His legs helped carry the day,” Saucier said.
None were prettier than his 39-yard run where the quarterback broke through the line almost untouched in the fourth quarter and raced for a 39-yard score.
The Centaurs started on a good note against the Wildcats (1-6) who got caught in traffic on their long-ish journey across the State and didn’t arrive until about 45 minutes prior to game time.
Before they could get their legs underneath them, they were behind on the scoreboard.
A fumble on the Bethel 2-yard line gave the Centaurs a golden opportunity. After going backwards on two plays, Richardson went in from nine yards out.
The Centaurs decided that they had the Wildcats on their heels so they attempted an onside kick which they recovered at the Bethel 42.
It took nine plays, but Mathewson fought his way across the goal line from four yards out to give the Centaurs a two-touchdown advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Bethel cut a little into the lead when Marin was successful on a 24-yard field goal four minutes into the second quarter.
But Richardson extended the lead with just 2 minutes, 19 seconds left in the half on a 24-yard run.
Richardson also was effective in the pass game as he completed 12 of 20 passes for 159 yards including a 42-yard scoring strike to Lucas Theriaque (3 catches, 70 yards) in the fourth quarter.
Prior to the game, the football team honored its 12 seniors.
“I think we went 19 (seniors two years ago), 17 (last season) and now 12. It’s still a healthy class, not as big as in years past, but it’s a healthy number,” Saucier said.
Richardson, Henry Wotton, Zach Majewski, Theriaque, Mathewson, Jacob Lizotte, Hunter Larson, Waylon Breault, David Bunning, Riley O’Brien, Anthony Buckner, and Kenny Brown will all graduate out of the program.
“There are certainly some key guys there that we rely on both sides of the ball. A Teddy Richardson on offense or Jacob Lizotte defensively and some of the new guys like Eric Mathewson and Zach Majewski who came out. They all play a pretty significant role,” Saucier said.
Woodstock looks to even its record and pick up its first ECC Div. I win when it travels to Groton to play Fitch on Friday at 6 p.m.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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psa pg 7 11-2-23
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Greg Canzater, the new girls’ basketball coach at Putnam Science Academy, joked recently that he was having a little trouble getting teams to agree to play “because I guess they think we still have all those big Division I players.”
PSA’s top three scorers from last year, all now committed to Division I schools, are no longer with the program. But Canzater wants to be clear – the cupboard is not bare, and the Mustangs will not shy away from any expectations of what Putnam Science basketball is.
“You walk in the gym and you see the Final Four banners on the women’s side and the four national championships on the men’s side,” he said. “There is already an expectation of Putnam Science and a bullseye on Putnam Science. So the expectations when the players walk in the door is that ‘we have to be this thing.’ I don’t run away from that. I came to Putnam knowing that and trying to meet and keep that.”
Canzater, who began his coaching career 15 years ago and was most recently the women’s coach at Bunker Hill Community College, believes he has a roster to make that possible.
There are only two players returning from last year – Helin Yoztyurk and Ruby Pebane, neither of whom saw much playing time – so it is essentially a brand-new team. Nine of the 12 are international students, which adds another dimension to coming together. But Canzater, who loves his teams to play fast, fast, fast, is getting them to understand how hard they will have to play at this level, which is a big piece of the battle.
PSA has three, maybe four, Division I prospects in the mix. Ekaterina “Kate” Lipatova, a member of the Class of 25, is already garnering plenty of college interest. She’s a 6-foot-4 rebounding monster, but it’s her shooting ability that separates her right now. Canzater called her a knockdown shooter who will be even more dangerous as she learns the places in the offense where she can find mid-range opportunities as well.
“She is an avid proponent of shooting the basketball,” Canzater said. “Her motor allows her to score at the basket when she wants to. But Kate will tell you right away she loves shooting it more than anything. I’ve told her that as long as she is an active rebounder and protects the rim, I don’t mind her taking any shot, because she can shoot it.”
Carlota Lopez, Class of 24, is the floor general who can do all the things a point guard should do. But the best thing about her game may be that when all else fails, she can get to the rim.
“She is going to be one of the better scoring guards in New England,” Canzater said. “In my coaching career, she is the craftiest finisher around the rim. Floaters, reverses, finishing over size. She’s special in that regard.”
And then there is Class of 26 guard Alba Granell. She just turned 15 and is the best two-way player on the team. If she grows another couple of inches over the years, look out for sure.
“She probably has the brightest future on our roster,” Canzater said. “I’d argue that she’s our best defender. She is a downhill threat getting to the basket and she’ll play a little bit of point guard for us. She very much embodies that European style of game. I think she is going to be special.”
Tatiana Bell has another year after this and could develop into that fourth Division I player on this roster. A versatile wing who is getting better in her decision-making going to the basket, Bell might not yet realize how good she can be.
“She has more offensive gifts than she’s realized in the past but we’re going to try to open those doors,” Canzater said. “In terms of reaching that potential, she can be a much more engaged defender. She’s going to have to defend three different positions for us, and that will only help her stock.”
Yoztyurk didn’t play much last year but has come back this year a different player. A gym rat, she’s just better and stronger, and is going to play a lot and likely start. Pebane is a captain if for nothing else but her high character. She is one of the hardest workers on the team and does all the right things. Alicia Jimenez is one of three big-time shooters and showing she can defend as well as any guard on the roster.
Helena Kovacic is probably the slightest player on the team but absolutely one of the toughest. She dives on the floor, she takes charges, she’s a vocal leader. And she can flat-out shoot it. Lina Ostos, like Pebane, brings character qualities that are hard to quantify. “She is ultra-positive with everybody throughout practice,” he said, “and that allows us to play through mistakes. You need that on your team.”
Carmen Plata averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds playing in the Boston Public Schools last year, and while that production likely won’t be duplicated, Canzater called her the angriest rebounder on the team and someone who can simply impose her will on the glass. Khaya Skene is similar in that regard, as her father was a Division I offensive lineman “and Khaya has the shoulders,” Canzater said. “When she gets that trigger, she starts moving bodies.” She is also the most vocal leader on the team and a terrific shooter. Elif Goksel is a high IQ player who played in the post a lot back home in Turkey but has shown the ability to play out on the wing here. She’s one of the players who I didn’t know about but came in and had game right away,” Canzater said. PSA is not a NEPSAC member but is going to play a lot of high-level NEPSAC teams. “Winning a national championship, that comes from us being consistent and sticking to the process, and everybody playing for each other,” Canzater said. “I tell them right away if we’re not here to reach for the national championship, this is not the place for you. But I am always throwing out there that come March 5-8, I want us to be in position to knock down every team we play. Simple as that. That’s the absolute end goal.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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charged pg 8 11-2-23
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PUTNAM — Oct. 23 Connecticut State Police in Lisbon arrested a Plainfield man accused of allegedly firing off rounds from a handgun in the parking lot of Charlie Bravo’s Bar & Grill.
The two active arrest warrants were held by the Putnam Police Department.
Putnam Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said the warrants were issued by the Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office after a lengthy investigation conducted by the Patrol and Detective Divisions stemming from a 2022 incident.
Tyler G. Tremblay, 26, of 449 Sterling Hill Road, Plainfield, was charged with failure to notify change of address for state-issued pistol permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, threating and breach of peace.
Police said Oct. 29, 2022, the accused was involved in a fight in the parking lot of Charlie Bravo’s Bar & Grill on Grove Street and allegedly fired off rounds from a handgun then fled the scene. No injuries were sustained from the discharging of the handgun. No further arrests are expected. All accused are innocent until proven guilty.
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police pg 8 11-2-23
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
Oct. 22
Rafael Altarriba, 18, Maple Street, Putnam; sixth-degree larceny.
Oct. 24
Kenneth Edward Newton, 67, Putnam Pike, Dayville; breach of peace, second-degree threatening, second-degree criminal trespass, interfering with officer.
Oct. 26
Arthur W. Hubert Jr., 48, First Avenue, Dudley; criminal violation of restraining order.
Zachary Prince, 30, Hammond Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct.
Oct. 27
Roger Anctil, 43, School Street, Putnam; second-degree failure to appear.
Roger Rioux, 67, no certain address; disorderly conduct.
Oct. 28
Luis Hernandez, 18, no certain address; third-degree assault, breach of peace, criminal mischief, second-degree harassment and disorderly conduct.
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