By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC Column is dedicated to Putnam optician Kim Neely.  He knows that eye care is very important to athletes.  That’s why he spends his free time at as many local prep and high school games as he can squeeze in.

Marc Allard, the former sports writer for the Observer Patriot and the Putnam Town Crier (AJ North) and current sports editor of the Norwich Bulletin, is always an originator and creator when it comes to schoolboy and schoolgirl sports.  After coming out last year with the best baseball players in Eastern Connecticut, this year he assembled a panel of “experts” and came up with “The Best We’ve Ever Seen.”  The job, pick the best girls' high school basketball players to grace the hardwood from the Massachusetts border to the shoreline.

The panel of “experts” was composed of seven individuals with northeastern Connecticut represented by Plainfield athletic director Jan Voland and former Putnam High School girls’ basketball coach Pam Childs.  As opposed to the baseball selections, this committee appears to have hit the nail on the head with its picks.

The unanimous selection from the Northeast was Killingly’s scoring machine Tracy Lis, who racked up 3,681 points in her career as a Redgal.  Her legacy continued in college where she recorded 2,534 points at Providence College, where she’s in the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Continuing the trip down memory lane, the committee selected Plainfield great Cathy Bochain, who posted 1,608 points and 1,172 rebounds as a Panther.  She moved on to UConn in the pre-Geno Auriemma era, where she scored 1,534 points prior to the three-point arc.  When she graduated in 1983 she was the school’s all-time leading scorer.

The final two northeastern Connecticut selections came out of Putnam, when coach Pam Childs enjoyed success with a parade of players who just kept coming to the forefront, year after year.  Kim Belliveau graduated in 1978 after dropping more than 1000 points through the twine in the “old” Putnam High School gymnasium.  She went on to a four-year career at William Penn University in Iowa, where she led her team to a Division II National Championship in 1981.

The other half of the Putnam duo was 1980 graduate Laurie St. Jean.  “Saint” or “SJ” as she was known in college, concluded her four years at Putnam with 1,428 points.  Like Killingly’s Lis before her, she moved on to Providence College, where she captained the Lady Friars in her junior and senior seasons.  A 1983 All-Big East Tournament selection, St. Jean finished her Providence career with 1,005 points.

A large number of former local players, who brought many cherished moments to the fans when they played, were also remembered in the Superlatives category.  Among the Best Rebounders were Marianne Archambault of Tourtellotte, Jill Bartholomei of Putnam, Morgan Griffin and Dawn Pariseau of Plainfield and Killingly’s Missy Kowolenko.  Lynne Quintal of Marianapolis was selected among the Best Shooters.  Hailey Griffin and Penny Gunn of Plainfield were noted among the Best Free Throw Shooters.

Among the Best Floor Leaders were the Plainfield duo of Kathy Blanchette and Raylene Laskarzewski, the Putnam pair of Sue Bousquet and Amy Crabtree and the late Eva Houle of Tourtellotte.  Best at Boxing Out included Patty Beatson of Woodstock Academy, Amy Diricco, Brenda Marquis and Chris Montgomery of Plainfield and Vickie Rondeau of Putnam.  Best Clutch Players included Torie Anderson, Kathy Johnson and Katrina O’Sullvan of Plainfield, Marybeth Chartier of Killingly, Carla Faucher of Marianapolis, Maggie Stoll of Tourtellotte and Katelyn Tarr of Putnam.

Woodstock Academy’s Debbie Clark was among the Best Perimeter Defenders and Plainfield’s Dawn Rose was chosen among the Best Passers and the Lady Panther’s Kim Bouten was noted for the Best Attitude.

Temporary Venue For PSA

Putnam Science Academy’s basketball game on Wednesday, January 27 against St. Andrew’s of Rhode Island was played at the Hyde-Woodstock gym rather than at the 18 Maple St. bandbox.  Despite being away from downtown Putnam the game drew a full house for attendance.  There were a number of interested and interesting spectators in attendance.

Among those in attendance were former UConn big man “Boo” Willingham and Quinnipiac University coach Tom Moore.  Also spotted in the crowd was PSA Head of School Don Cushing, a former college coach at Nichols College and Worcester State University.

Hyde-Woodstock Director of Athletics and former Putnam High School standout athlete Sean Saucier did a great job in making everyone feel at home in foreign territory.  The contest went off like clockwork.  The game was officiated by Danielson attorney Christian Sarantopolous and college ref Mike Steere of Rhode Island, both members of the IAABO Board #35 of Northeastern Connecticut.  Officials are using pink whistles and lanyards as part of the Coaches Against Cancer nationwide effort in which IAABO has raised more than $1 million over the years.

All State Recognition

Undisputedly, Killingly High School had the best football team in the area this past gridiron season.  Redmen went all the way to the CIAC Class M semifinals under coach Chad Neal.  The postseason rewards continue to come for the players.

The New Haven Register released its All State selections, which included Killingly’s Austen Caffrey who earned third team honors as a linebacker.  Josh Angell was accorded honorable mention recognition as a defensive lineman.  

Killingly High School and athletic director Gene Blain were honored by the National Football League, when the school received a “Gold Football” as part of the Super Bowl 50 celebration.  The NFL is honoring high schools throughout the country that had football players who played in any of the previous 49 Super Bowls.  Killingly was honored because of Eric Laakso.

Laakso moved on to a four-year career at Tulane University after graduating from Killingly.  He later enjoyed a stellar career in the NFL with the great Miami Dolphin teams.  Laakso played in two Super Bowls.

Pre-Super Bowl Festivities

Dave Vitale, the entrepreneur, is at it again on behalf of the Putnam High School Alumni Athletic Association.  On Saturday, February 6 Vitale and his volunteers are staging a pre-Super Bowl fund-raiser for the organization at Athens Pizza beginning after noon.

The event features DJ Colt 45 featuring Colt Foley, celebrity bartender appearances as well as pizza and beer with the price of admission.  As usual Vitale has a few tricks up his sleeve including cigars, pools, a few laughs and “a good old fashion time for a good cause.”  Stop in and enjoy the camaraderie.

Collegians and More

The University of Maine played Hartford University recently and went home with a 105-100 overtime win.  Former Putnam Science Academy Mustang Shaun Lawton, who appears to be back in coach Bobby Walsh’s god graces, contributed seven points including a key three-pointer down the stretch in 24 minutes of action.

Quinnipiac University, which has three former Mustangs on the roster, Chaise Daniels, and twins Andrew and Aaron Robinson, is having a tough season at 5-13.  In a 75-52 loss to Rider, former Mustang guard Kealan Ives contributed nine points for Rider.  The Bobcats, Daniels was held scoreless, while Andrew Robinson had a three-pointer and Aaron was scoreless.  Quinnipiac then lost to a good Monmouth team 64-51.  Daniels rebounded with a six-point performance while Andrew Robinson was scoreless and Aaron Robinson posted a DNP.

Coach Tom Moore at the St. Andrew’s game told RPC the following about the trio.  “Daniels is coming back faster than anticipated from a torn MCL.  He’ll gain more confidence when he can trust the knee.”  “Andrew Robinson was brought in as a shooter but is having a tough time getting acclimated to the college game.  He needs to work on his ball handling, passing and defense.”  “Aaron Robinson hasn’t seen much action because he requires a little more time to hone his game.”

National Standings

Putnam Science Academy is ranked 4th in the nation in the latest poll put out by Next Up Recruits.  Hargrave Military Academy is #1 with Northfield Mount Hermon next and St. Thomas More of Oakdale, one of the teams to beat the Mustangs this season, is third.  New Hampton School (5th), South Kent (7th), Mount Zion of Maryland (8th) and Brewster Academy (9th) are all future PSA opponents this season. 

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Benjamin Franklin may have discovered electricity, but the man who invented the meter made all the money.” Johnny Carson

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