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Prep Teams
The Putnam Science Academy prep teams at Tipoff Dinner. PSA photos.
Midnight Madness came to Putnam Science Academy, sort of.
In the early evening Oct. 26, the school hosted Mustang Madness, its annual community event in which all the basketball teams were introduced and the fans in attendance were treated to dunk and 3-point shooting contests. There was also plenty for the young fans to do besides just watch basketball, including face painting, arts and crafts, and eating plenty of free food. Kids also competed in a dunk contest on a small hoop.
As for the regulation-size basket, Texas A&M-bound Hassan Diarra won the dunk contest for the second straight year. He had two one-handed throw downs, one while jumping over his 6-foot-7 teammate Terrell Ard Jr. and another while jumping over his 6-foot, 8-inch older brother Mamadou, which were the highlights of the contest.
Delaney Haines, a guard on the girls’ team, won the 3-point contest.
“It was a lot of fun and there was a lot of energy in the gym all night,” said PSA athletic director and boys’ prep coach Tom Espinosa. “We have the best fans in prep school basketball.”
A few nights earlier, PSA held its third annual Basketball Tipoff Dinner at the Elks Lodge. The event is designed to bring players on the school’s prep teams together with each other and members of the community. Coaches from both teams introduced each of their players and spoke of their expectations.
“This is a good night for us,” Espinosa said. “It’s a chance to say thank you to some of our fans and get a lot of people who support our kids and our programs together.”
Espinosa garnered the biggest laugh of the night when he introduced Mekhi Gray, who is from the cozy hamlet of Montrose, N.Y., about 40 miles north of New York City.
“Mekhi loves it here,” Espinosa said. “Putnam is like Las Vegas compared to where he’s coming from.”
Mustangs’ graduate assistant/manager Justin Stockhaus received the weekly PSA “Horse Collar” Award, given to a member of the program who exhibits grit and toughness.
“I can’t think of anyone who deserves the award more,” said PSA assistant coach Josh Scraba. “We held off a little bit handing out this week’s award until we saw Justin here.”
Guest speaker Vasileios Politis told his inspiring story of overcoming cancer, stressing the importance of leaning on family and teammates while facing adversity head on with the proper mindset. Close to 100 people attended the event.
The men’s team opens its season against Ridley Prep of Ontario, Canada as part of the Caribbean Tip-Off Classic in the Bahamas on Nov. 1. The women started with a home game on Oct. 29, and are off to Canada to play three games in three days starting on Halloween against the No. 1 prep team in Canada.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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