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PSA's
winning
weekend
Putnam Science Academy girls’ prep coach Amanda Morales was very deliberate when putting together this season’s schedule. The idea was to be ready for the three-games-in-three-days format of the national championship tournament in late February.
This weekend, the Mustangs played in their second such setup, this time at the She Got Game Classic in Virginia from Dec. 13-15. And unlike the first time they faced such a situation and went 1-2, PSA put together a memorable weekend in winning all three of its games.
Led by Sabou Gueye, who won MVP honors in two of the games, PSA defeated Royal Academy of Canada 53-40 Friday, Carolina Prep 65-18 Saturday, and King’s Christian Academy (also of Canada) 66-45 Sunday. Gueye had 22 points and seven steals in the final game.
“Sabou was sensational all weekend,” Morales said. “Her stock has risen big time.”
Delaney Haines also played well for the Mustangs and was named MVP of Saturday’s game when she drained five 3-pointers on her way to 19 points.
The wins in Virginia capped a 4-0 week for PSA, which dropped Redemption Christian Academy 65-50 on Dec. 9 behind 20 points from Haines and 14 points and eight rebounds from Gueye.
PSA improved to 8-3 and plays another of those three-in-three sets starting today at the Rivers Holiday Tournament in Weston, Mass.
Boys’ Prep
Meanwhile, the boys’ prep team suffered its first loss of the season on Dec. 14, when it fell 100-87 to Core4 Prep of Atlanta in the Battle in the Apple at Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Barclays Center.
Hassan Diarra had 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the loss. Vlad Goldin finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Mekhi Gray 12 points and six boards, and Elijah Everett 10 points for the Mustangs, who made just two of their 20 3-point attempts.
“We couldn’t make a shot,” said coach Tom Espinosa.
The team bounced back with a 100-77 over First Love Christian. Gray led six Mustangs players in double figures with 12 points at the PSA Prep Showcase in the Bronx.
D’Maurian Williams had 11 points, five rebounds, and four steals; JuJu Murray 11 points and five assists; Diarra 10 points and eight rebounds; Josh Gray 10 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks; and Goldin 10 points. Everett finished with five points and 10 rebounds for PSA.
Williams had 14 points and five rebounds on Dec. 11, in the team’s 93-80 victory against Winchendon. Terrell Ard led six players scoring in double figures in that one with 16 points to go with eight rebounds, and a pair of steals, leading PSA (12-1). Goldin added 15 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while Marty Silvera had 13 points, Diarra 11, and Everett 10 plus eight boards.
Non-prep action
In non-prep action, PSA’s boys’ varsity team took a number of gut-punch losses. The Mustangs lost on an overtime buzzerbeater Dec. 9, 77-75 to St. Thomas More. Darryl Simmons had 17 points, Luc Brittian 16, and Viktor Shvetc 12 points in that game.
Three days later, they lost 89-85 to Our Savior Lutheran (N.Y.), despite 18 points from Luke Desaulnier, 20 from Abdul Seck, and 14 from Jaden Brewington.
Two days after that, PSA was handed a more definitive defeat, this time 93-80 to Montmorency College, a loss that dropped the team to 4-6.
The varsity 2 team won both of its games. The first was 47-46 over Bartlett on Dec. 10, thanks in large part to Khalil Gooden’s game-winning basket on a mid-range jumper with 12 seconds to play. Gooden finished with 17 points. Erwan Menguy had 10 points and Michael Phav eight for the Mustangs.
Joey Pezzano scored 25 points on Dec. 13, leading them to another win, this time 70-20 over Ellis Tech. Kevin Ravix finished with 20 points and Javier Cobo 15 in that game.
Finally, on the girls’ side, Zanashia Croft was instrumental in helping the varsity team win all three of its games. Croft hit four free throws in the fourth quarter, including the game-winners, Dec. 12 in a 60-57 win at Navy Prep. Aden Edebali scored 22 points and Bri Mead added 14 for the Mustangs.
The following night, Croft scored 24 points in a 72-21 win over Rectory School. May Santiago chipped in with a season-high 23 points, and Edebali added 12. It was another laugher on Dec. 15, when Croft went for 27 in a 116-63 win against Monroe College (N.Y.). Edebali and Appey Desuze had 22 points apiece, Santiago finished with 18, and Sofia Marcos added 16 for the Mustangs (5-1).
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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