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caption:
From left: Barkley. Simmons. Dioubate. Photos by Thomas Netzer.
Putnam Science Academy brings it after loss
Team loses lead Friday;
comes back with a
vengence Sunday
The vibe was different at the pregame meeting. Tom Espinosa could tell his PSA Prep basketball team was much more focused Sunday morning than it was two nights earlier.
The results showed it.
The Mustangs opened the 2022-23 season Friday night, first unveiling the banner for last year’s national championship team that went 38-0, but then failing to hold a 12-point, second-half lead in a 98-93 loss to Our Savior Lutheran of The Bronx, N.Y.
But as Espinosa said, the group locked in Sunday morning and downed an overmatched Thetford Academy out of Canada, 108-47.
“I think Friday night really upset some of these guys,” Espinosa said. “Thetford isn’t as talented as OSL but still…at the end of the day, we brought it Sunday. We could’ve been sulking, pouting, but they weren’t. They were ready to go.”
The Mustangs got plenty of offense all weekend. The defense was the difference though. The Mustangs want to be in your face, and pressure the ball while taking away the passing lanes. There was none of that Friday night, but more than enough Sunday. PSA came away with 14 steals plus forced at least another dozen turnovers against Thetford.
Darryl Simmons had 11 points, six assists, and four steals, Connor Dubsky hit five 3-pointers on his way to finishing with 19 points and also added four steals. Blake Barkley chipped in with seven points, six assists, four steals, and four rebounds.
“I was mad Friday night because the streak was over,” said Simmons, one of five returning players who were part of the championship team. “I think other people were upset too, and it helped a lot (Sunday) to see what we needed to improve and learn. We needed to play hard and keep momentum going and the same energy on both ends of the floor.
“We don’t want teams to run plays. We want to keep pressure on them so they can’t do anything they want to. We want to get turnovers and get to the other end and score the ball.”
Mouhamed Dioubate had his second straight double-double, charting 20 points and 11 rebounds in the win.
PSA led 22-12 about eight minutes into the game, then scored 18 unanswered points over the next four minutes to take control. The Mustangs led 70-29 at the half.
PSA led OSL 56-49 at the half Friday, and 87-75 with about eight to play.
But OSL tied the game at 88, then hit a 3 with 1:40 left to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way, handing the Mustangs their first loss since March 26, 2021.
Simmons had a career-high 27 points and added eight assists, but it was to no avail.
“We gave up 98 points,” Espinosa said. “That’s a killer. They looked comfortable on everything. Our halfcourt pressure defense wasn’t there.”
Barkley added 18 points and six rebounds while DJ Dormu finished with 16 points and six boards. Both were playing their first game with PSA. Dioubate recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Muazibini Adamu grabbed 10 boards.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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