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The main event never materialized, but the precursor certainly filled the void.
Putnam Science Academy’s boys’ Prep basketball team, ranked No. 1 or 2 depending on which poll you’re looking at, was slated to take on Northfield Mount Hermon, also ranked No. 1 or 2 depending on which poll you’re looking at, Sunday night in Springfield, Mass. But Covid concerns led to the postponement of that game and left the Mustangs with just their Jan. 14 at St. Thomas More.
But make no mistake, there was plenty of intensity and plenty of celebrating after PSA improved to 15-0 with an 81-69 victory over their in-state rival.
“Any road win is a good win, but winning at St. Thomas More is different,” said PSA coach Tom Espinosa. “This is the toughest place to play.”
Barry Evans had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals for the Mustangs, who also got 18 points, five rebounds, five steals, and four assists from Arturo Dean and 11 points, six rebounds, and two blocks from Mouhamed Dioubate.
“The intensity was good, the atmosphere was good,” Dean said. “The coaches told us it wasn’t going to be easy playing in their house. There were some bad calls in there but our coaches told us to just play through it and let them handle the refs and we need to keep playing. I think we did a good job of that.”
PSA, which entered the game winning by an average of 38 points, were never able to pull away as their lead hung around 10 points. The Mustangs took their first lead, 21-19, at the 8:20 mark of the first half when Evans put back his own miss. From there, every time the Mustangs looked like they might put some distance between the teams, the Chancellors knocked down some shots and got it back to six or four points.
But PSA’s pressure defense, as it has done to every opponent thus far, just wouldn’t let St. Thomas More get any closer than that. St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn acknowledged that much to reporters after the game, but that was after spent a good portion of the actual game screaming at the officials to call a technical foul on the PSA bench because there were instances in which the assistant coaches were standing. He actually got his wish with about four seconds to play as PSA’s entire bench was on its collective feet ready to celebrate the win.
Desmond Claude, who joined PSA this season after spending the last three in St. Thomas More’s program, had seven points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. DayDay Gittens was good again as well, finishing with seven points, five assists, three steals, and two blocks.
“It was intense,” Dean said. “We love games like this. We want games like this. It was good to see this team face adversity, and when it hit, we conquered it.”
Earlier last week, PSA toppled Bridgeport Prep, 129-75, as seven players scored in double figures, led by Gittens’ season-high 17 points.
Dean finished with 14 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds, while Dioubate posted his seventh double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Evans also had a double (10 points, 12 boards), Josh Rivera had 14 points, and Claude and Sotirios Nafpliotis both had 12 for PSA.
PSA’s Varsity team knocked off Wilbraham & Monson, 63-37 Jan. 12. Pau Amengual scored a game-high 16 points, and Joseph Magne added 14 points.
“We came out the gates with a lot of energy,” said Mustangs coach Nick Schmidt. “We really took pride in guarding the ball and defense led to steals and transition layups. I was very happy with our effort. We were chomping at the bit to finally play a game after a month off. Our hungriness won us the game.” Taylan Cengiz chipped in with 13 points and Ethan Senkyire had 11 for the Mustangs.
The boys’ Elite team had a rougher week, dropping its two games out of the semester break, 79-64 to Springfield Commonwealth and 95-72 to St. Thomas More’s Prep 2 team.
“Little rusty, little worn down after the break,” said coach John Cavaliere. “We’ve got to get back to it and doing what we do.” Jalen Claude had 26 points and Lamar Watkins finished with 14 in the loss to St. Thomas More.
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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