By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s column is dedicated to Putnam resident Scott Goldbach.  The former U.S. Marine has been very involved in coaching baseball programs at the Little League and junior high level, enjoying assisting young people in understanding America’s pastime.

The Putnam Rotary Club has been organizing the high school senior boys and girls all star basketball game for more than two decades.  The popular event is generally the finale of the basketball season and provides a showcase for the players who have been performing on the hardwood the past four years.  This year’s contest will have historic significance for the participants and the spectators in attendance.

In recognition of one of the most loyal Rotarians in the history of the Putnam Rotary Club, organizers named the game initially in honor of Raymond Brousseau.  Since Mr. Brousseau’s death, the game has maintained his name, The Ray Brousseau Rotary Senior All Star Game.

Brousseau was a local business man who owned and operated a clothing business in downtown Putnam for more than 50 years.  He was a member of the Putnam Rotary Club for more than five decades, achieving perfect attendance for 41 years.  He also served as the Club’s president in 1941 and was honored with the Paul Harris Award,  the highest recognition in Rotary International.

 In addition to continuing the memory of Ray Brousseau, this year’s contest is likely to be the final basketball game in the storied Putnam High School gymnasium.  Putnam High School is currently going through “renovate as new” construction.  Following the game, the “old gym” will be shuttered as the construction of the “new gym” is planned to be ready for use beginning with the 2015-2016 schoolboy and school girl seasons.

According to Putnam Recreation director and Rotarian Wilfred “Willie” Bousquet, the club is working diligently to make this year’s game a special event.  Bousquet and his committee have been spreading the word and indicate that participants are expected from Tourtellotte, Marianapolis, Putnam, Woodstock Academy, Killingly, Ellis Tech, Plainfield, Putnam Science Academy, Griswold, Parish Hill and Windham Tech.

“These games have become an attraction for local basketball fans because the players put their all in both the girls’ and boys’ games.  It’s an opportunity for the players to relax and enjoy the games playing with others who were their opponents during the season,” said Bousquet.

The games are scheduled for Thursday, March 19 with the girls’ contest beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the boys’ game to follow at approximately 7 p.m.  Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for senior citizens and students.  The games will be broadcast live on WINY Radio with John Wilbur calling the play-by-play and Scott Desrosiers providing the color commentary.  The National Anthem will be sung by Putnam’s renowned tenor Maurice “Moe” Coderre.

All players and coaches will receive a memento symbolic of their participation in the games.  There will be selection of Most Valuable Players from each of the four teams immediately following each contest.  The awards are provided compliments of the Byrnes Insurance Agency.

“Since this is the last game in the Putnam gym, we feel it has historic significance.  We’re hoping that fans will turn out to cheer on the players and show their support for these young athletes. One guarantee is, it will be a great evening of excitement-packed basketball,” said Bousquet.

Working with Bousquet on the organizing committee are Rotarians, Chris Sandford, Linda Lemmon, Ed Dias, Peter Benoit, Henry Doughty, Marc Archambault, Jay Byrnes and Kayla Burgess.

Area Says Goodbye 

to Three Sports Notables

Putnam region sports enthusiasts received the sad news of the deaths of three local notables last week.  Kiku Andersen of Thompson, Bruce Chenail of Vermont and Florida and Leon Shedroff of San Diego died is a 10-day span.

Andersen, who was one of New England’s top women tennis players, died on Feb. 3.  Kiku immigrated to the U..S. in 1960 from Japan and Germany.  She immediately became a tennis sensation and at one time was ranked first in Women’s Singles in New England.  Wherever there was a tennis court or match, Kiku could usually be found.  She will be missed.

Chenail, who was a graduate of Putnam High School and UConn, came from the athletic Chenail family of Putnam.  Bruce and his brothers Bob, Rick, Tom and Steve were all part of the Putnam Little League where their dad, Donald “Beansie” Chenail coached for many years.  At age 58, Bruce Chenail was taken from us too early.

Shedroff, who hailed from Colchester, was well known throughout northeastern Connecticut as one of the best and most colorful high school and American Legion umpires to grace the local diamonds.  Shedroff had a unique way of diffusing touchy situations on the diamond.  Although umpires, according to fans, are only 50 percent correct on their calls, Shedroff was loved by players, coaches and fans who knew him.

Gone but not forgotten, Kiku Andersen, Bruce Chenail and Leon Shedroff.

Catching Up with the Collegians

As college teams race toward March Madness, the voices of Dickie V, Jay Bilas, Dan Schulman and Dave O’Brien fill the airways describing the action for teams such as Duke, Kentucky and the UConn women.  Meanwhile, other lesser known college teams continue to play hard in an effort to get to conference championships and possibly into March Madness.

In Hamden at Quinnipiac University Ousmane Drame and Chaise Daniels continue to give the Bobcats the hope of reaching the NCAA dream.  Drame, the former Marianapolis big man, reached a milestone that very few collegians achieve when he recorded his 1000th-career rebound to go along with his career 1000 points reached earlier in the season.  Drame’s been consistently in double figures for the 14-12 Bobcats.

 Daniels, the 6-foot, 8-inch former Putnam Science Academy center, continues to improve each time he takes the court for coach Tom Moore.  Daniels, a freshman, had a career-high 12 points to go with nine rebounds and two blocks in a 60-57 loss to top ranked Iona of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.  Daniels was 6-for-7 from the floor.

Up north in Worcester, 6-9 Paul Brooks continues to be the lone bright spot for an otherwise lackluster Worcester State University team.  In a loss to Salem State the former PSA center registered 14 points and nine rebounds.  He followed the performance with a 19-point showing in a loss to Westfield State.  Brooks should get the “Windex Award” for the way he cleans the glass for the Lancers. 

Schoolboy Stat Leaders

Plainfield’s Steve Jankowski continues to lead local high school players in scoring at 18.9 points a contest, while Woodstock’s Oliver Simon is still on top the three-point category with 41.  Killingly’s Meagan Bianchi has moved into the top spot for females with a 14.6 average, a mere one-tenth of a point ahead of Plainfield’s Madeline Lorange.  Pomfret School’s Deja Ross is third at 14.0 ppg.  Lorange is the leader from beyond the arc with 45 followed by Allie Ablondi of Tourtellotte (37) and Caroline Soucy of Marianapolis (28).  The prep scoring leader is Pomfret’s Cam Winston (19.3) followed by Tom Horvat of Marianapolis V1 (18.8).  Andrew Robinson (61) and Kealen Ives (51) both of Putnam Science Academy are far and away the three-point leaders.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: In basketball, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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Hockey team wins

WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Academy ice hockey team (9-6) beat conference rival Eastern CT by the score of 3-0 last week.

Woodstock goals:

Ryan Black assist Nathan Deluca, Doug Gerrity

Nathan Deluca assist Will Liscomb, Gerrity

Ryan Black unassisted

Cal Wilcox had 22 saves for the shutout.

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

There was a huge rush to complete the regular season boys’ basketball schedule last week as the weather man with his unusual snow fall created earlier postponements.  Teams were actively pushing to squeeze in all their games prior to conference and State tournaments.

The teams that have been eliminated from the postseason grew by one last week, as Woodstock, resembling the Red Sox, went from State champs two years ago to out of the playoff picture this year as it finished the season at 7-13.  The Acads join previously eliminated Ellis Tech and Tourtellotte in those ranks.

Putnam and Killingly desperately needing victories rose to the occasion as both enjoyed 2-0 weeks.  Killingly won over Montville and Griswold and is 7-11 and need one more win in its final two games to qualify.  Putnam at 6-11 picked up victories over Tourtellotte and Grasso Tech but must win two of its final three games to gain entry into the postseason.

Plainfield at 13-6 is securely locked in.

Putnam Science Academy is in a season- ending swoon.  The Mustangs at 22-7 experienced two unusual two-game losing streaks.  They must pick up the tempo if they expect to be invited to the National Prep School Tournament again this year.

The Marianapolis V2 squad reached the SENE Division II Championship game against Providence Country Day.  The Golden Knights V1 team, in a downward spiral is in the midst of a 10-game losing streak.

Pomfret School’s NEPSAC Tournament hopes remain alive, while Hyde-Woodstock at 9-11 is hoping to go out on a winning note.

Bubble hasn’t Burst Yet for Clippers, Redmen

When teams speak about being on the bubble it means that at any minute their hopes for the postseason could burst or with any luck the bubble will float to the tournament.  Killingly and Putnam currently sit on top the bubble.  The weight is much greater for the Clippers, while the Redmen look like they may survive.

Killingly, which seems to have come to the realization that winning is enjoyable, picked up two wins last week to go to 7-11 on the season.  The Redmen started with a 52-46 win over a good Montville team.  Owen Guillot, playing like a shadow of his dad Bill, the former Tourtellotte standout, had a career game leading Killingly to the win with 24 points.  Three of his hoops were from three-point land.  Brenden Turner was the only other player in double figures with 11 points.

The Redmen continued their winning ways with a 60-39 victory over Griswold.  After falling behind 9-0 at the onset, Killingly coach Jim Crabtree inserted Turner into the game and he responded with a 26-point performance to pace the Redmen.  Big Ben Desaulnier had 16 markers and Guillot chipped in a dozen.

Killingly must pick up one win in its final two games to qualify for the Eastern Connecticut Conference and CIAC tournaments.  They play St. Bernard and New London to close out the regular season.  If they hope to qualify they must beat the Saints because beating New London, which is the #2 team in Connecticut, will be like a trip to the moon.  Impossible.

The Putnam Clippers opened last week with a closer than anticipated 65-58 win over winless Tourtellotte.  A late Tiger run in the fourth quarter where they outscored Putnam 20-13 threw a scare into the Clipper faithful.  Putnam was led by Shawn Audet with 22 points and Jacob Guertin with 10.  Kyle Brule had 14 for Tourtellotte.  The Tigers lost their only other game of the week, 57-40 to Norwich Tech to go to 0-19 on the season.

Putnam continued on its winning ways with a 77-61 win over Grasso Tech.  Steve Dakai, with a double-double, 24 points and 12 rebounds, was immense for Putnam in the win.  Audet added 15 points and freshman Dan Porcic continued his fine play with 19 points.

The Clippers must win two of their final three games to enter the postseason.  Two of their upcoming opponents are Wheeler and Lyman, teams that have beaten Putnam earlier in the season.

Plainfield had the misfortune of having to play New London twice in one week.  The outcome was the same both times with the Panthers on the short end of the scores 79-41 and 77-63.  In its only other game Plainfield slipped by Lyman 49-47 thanks to a 16-point performance by Liam Jacobs.  Steve Jankowski (12) and Andre Bergeron (10) were also in double figures for the 13-5 Panthers.  Jacobs also posted 26 in the second loss to New London. 

Woodstock Academy bowed out of the 2014-2015 season with a last-gasp effort that fell just short.  Needing to win its final two games to make the postseason, the Acads upset University Prep 44-37 behind a 16-point performance by Adam Converse.  Unfortunately, the Centaurs were unable to sustain their winning ways as they were overwhelmed by a very good Ledyard team, losing their final game of the season 89-56 to the Colonels.  Converse had 19 and Nick Short 15 for Woodstock which closes at 7-13.

Ellis Tech at 3-16 overall and 1-9 in the Constitution State Conference – East lost both its games last week, 75-38 to Parish Hill and 73-33 to Griswold.

Marianapolis Falls Twice in Local Matchups

Marianapolis V1 had a busy week playing three games, two of which pitted them against local preps, Pomfret School and Hyde-Woodstock.  The Golden Knights, who are currently mired in a 10-game losing streak, lost the battle for local supremacy being beaten both games.

Leading 30-26 at halftime, Marianapolis was unable to stand prosperity as it allowed Pomfret School to walk off with a home court 66-61 victory.  The Golden Griffins were led by Obim Okeke with 20 points.  He was joined in double figures by Pelumi Onabanjo and Maguire “Moose” Crouse with 10 points apiece.  Tim Horvat with 35 points was a one-man show for the Golden Knights.  In its only other game, Pomfret was dropped by Rivers School 61-39, despite a double-double by Gerald Blount.  He had a dozen points and corralled 11 rebounds for the 11-8 Golden Griffins.

In an unusual outcome, Marianapolis also lost to Hyde-Woodstock 66-65.  Eamon Joyce with 20 points led a trio of Wolfpack players in double digits as Damon Gomes had 17 and Dexter Thompson added 16 for Hyde-Woodstock.  Ryan Berstein had 19 and Horvat 17 for MPS.  Later in the week the Knights lost to Kimball Union 70-53 to fall to 8-14 on the season.

Hyde-Woodstock maintained its winning ways, picking two additional victories in a perfect 3-0 week.  The Wolfpack beat Hebron Academy 78-40 on the strength of a 22-point showing by Thompson.  They followed that victory with a 76-64 win over Kents Hill as Thompson and Gomes paved the way with 23 and 24 points respectively.

The Little Golden Knights were felled by St. Andrew’s 69-55 despite 12 points apiece from Colin and Ryan Hourihan.  The V2 team bounced back, beating Rocky Hill 50-34 to clinch a berth in the SENE Div. II title game against Providence Country Day.  

Putnam Science Academy experiencing an unusual losing stretch lost a last second heartbreaker to Brimmer & May 66-65.  Mamadou Diarra with 18 points was the Mustangs leading scorer while Kealen Ives chipped in 16 and Hamidou Diallo added 10.

The Mustangs regained a bit of respect with a thrilling 67-62 win over #2 nationally ranked Notre Dame Prep at the Brewster Academy Showcase.  Point guard Ives was the team’s scorer with 17 points followed by Diallo with 15 and Andrew Robinson with 11.

In the finale of the Showcase, PSA fell at the hands of host Brewster 87-74 in a game that was much closer than the final score might indicate.  The two teams were tied with four minutes to play before Brewster pulled away, handing the Mustangs their sixth loss of the season.  Andrew Robinson had 25 points in the loss.

A trip to Bridgton, Maine, resulted in another loss.  The Mustangs fell at the hands of host Bridgton Academy 72-67.  Leading by nine at intermission and by as many as 18 at one point in the second half, PSA let victory slip through its fingers.  The Mustangs were led by Josh Wallace with 15 points.

 

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