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Luc Brittian in past game. Courtesy photo.
It was a scene the Putnam Science Academy boys’ varsity basketball team saw play out too many times this year.
Erase a big deficit, only to run out of gas at the end and not be able to finish the comeback.
Lose a big lead, and not be able to hold off the final run.
So many close losses, seven of them in fact by five points or less, heading into the March 7 championship game of the Great Atlantic Conference against Our Savior Lutheran.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs and coach Dana Valentine, the title game made eight. PSA trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, rallied to take the lead midway through the second half, before ultimately falling 72-68.
“I’m so proud of the guys in our locker room,” Valentine said. “That’s a tough-ass group of dudes who never quit. I’m proud to be their coach.
“No matter how many times we got down this year we kept fighting until the end.”
With about five seconds left, PSA’s potential game-tying 3-pointer from the top of the key missed. Jaden Brewington got the rebound and drew a foul. He made the first free throw, but a violation on the second when he was intentionally trying to miss, ended the game.
Darryl Simmons scored 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half when the Mustangs (21-11) took their first lead, 52-51, with about eight-and-a-half minutes to play.
Luc Brittian ended his career by scoring 20 points for PSA, which also got 13 points from Amir Sanders and nine from Abdul Seck.
“Darryl made huge plays for us in the second half,” Valentine said. “And Luc was an absolute monster on the glass once again.”
PSA advanced to the championship game by upsetting Bridgeport Prep on the road, 86-84.
Brittian scored 22 points in that one as the Mustangs avenged two regular-season losses – by three and four points – to Bridgeport.
Seck had 17 points, Sanders and Simmons finished with 13 apiece, and Jaden Brewington added nine for the Mustangs.
“Both teams fought until the end,” Valentine said. “Great team win, Luc was a monster on the glass. I’m proud of my guys and their resilience.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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