Details

Category: Current Issue

Edgar Wetherbee Jr.,
WWII vet
THOMPSON —  Edgar H. Wetherbee Jr., 92, a lifelong Thompson resident, died Feb. 20, 2019, at his daughter’s home in Danielson.
Eddy was born May 10, 1926, in N. Grosvenordale, to the late Edgar and Nina (Rhodes) Wetherbee, and attended Thompson schools. He served in the Pacific Theater during WWII as a fireman 1st class in the U.S. Navy.
He married Marguerite (Peggy) Fifield on Aug. 31, 1946, at the First Congregational Church in Thompson. She died in 2011.
Eddy was a talented yodeler who performed locally for years. After retiring from Preferred Plastics in Putnam, Eddy enjoyed gardening and taking on projects around the house — he never met something broken he couldn’t fix. He was a longtime member of Putnam Baptist Church and the American Legion.
He leaves three children, Linda Collins, of Danielson, Edgar Wetherbee III, of Thompson, and Diane Gratton (Roger) of Pomfret; daughter-in-law, Cynthia, of Webster; four granddaughters, Kathleen Collins (Jason Stradling), Dawn Shea (Richard), Nora Barrows (Robert), and Melissa Wetherbee and fiancé Bryan Ciaramitaro; three great-grandchildren, Nathan Shea, Quinn Shea and Audrey Stradling. He was predeceased by five brothers, Walter, Steve, Clarence, Ray and Herbert (Stub), and a sister, Dot Shippee.
Graveside service was Feb. 23 at W. Thompson Cemetery. Donations: The Putnam Baptist Church, 170 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260; or The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Attn: Tribute Gifts, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Robert W. Whipple Sr.
N. GROSVENORDALE — Robert W. Whipple Sr., 80, of Holmes St., died Feb. 19, 2019, at UMass University Hospital. Born in 1938 in Putnam, he was the son of the late William W. and Olga (Drescher) Whipple. Bob was a graduate of the Mystic Oral School Class of 1957.
Mr. Whipple worked as a self-employed carpenter and antique refinisher. He was a member of the Worcester, Mystic, Hartford and Bridgeport Deaf Clubs. He played Norwich YMCA Basketball and Mystic Oral School Basketball. He was inducted into the “N.E.A.A.D.” New England Athletic, Association of the Deaf Basketball Hall of Fame on March 5 of 1988. He was an avid NASCAR fan and was himself a racecar driver and owner; racing in Waterford Speed Bowl and Thompson International Speedway.
He leaves his sons, William Whipple (Jennifer) of Eastford, and Robert Whipple Jr. (Jordan) of Winstead; his daughters, Sharon Kalis (Robert) of St. Augustine, Fla., Georgia Pollard and Roberta Guadarrama (Victor Albino) of N. Grosvenordale, and Jackie Waldron and her fiancé Kevin House of Beaver Dams, N.Y.; his brothers, Arnold Whipple of Stockton, Calif., and William Whipple of Woodbury; sisters, Harolyn Anthony of Murrells Inlet, S.C., and Ruth Hopkins of Danielson; 17 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sisters, Diane Barber, Susan Metivier, and Barbara Murray; and a grandson.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  Donations: Whipple family, c/o William Whipple, 1 Sprague Hill Rd., Eastford, CT 06242. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Louise L. Gingras
THOMPSON — Louise L. Gingras, 84, formerly of Soap Street, Dayville, died Feb. 21, 2019, at Westview Health Care Center where she was a resident for the past four years. She was the wife of the late Leonard R. Gingras.
She was born in 1934, daughter of the late Louis and Stella (Mandeville) Gibeault.
Louise worked in customer service at Jacob’s Rubber and later at Lydall Manufacturing.  In retirement, she enjoyed traveling, reading, bus trips with the senior citizen groups, and singing in the choir at St. Anthony of Padua in Dudley.
She leaves children, Deborah A. Gingras of E. Hartford, Lorraine L. Lynch (Michael) of Casa Grande, Ariz., James L. Gingras (Diane) of Thompson, and Carol E. Rossetti (Vincent) of N. Grosvenordale; her sister, Beatrice Denomme of Griswold; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 26 at St. Anthony of Padua Church with burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dayville. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

Betty French Perry
Betty Louise French Perry, 89, went home to her Lord Feb. 24, 2019.
Betty grew up in Eastford with her six siblings on a little farm. She married James L. Perry on Oct. 30, 1948. Their love was one for which to aspire. She loved this area so much that she only moved a short way down the road to raise her own family — even after wintering in Florida for many years, only here, in this little piece of the world, she called home.
Betty attended Woodstock Academy but her proudest academic achievement was credits from the Moody Bible Institute where she remotely took instruction and received top marks. In addition to her primary work of being a mother, she worked at General Lyon’s Inn, Eastford , both in the kitchen, cooking and in the dining room serving. She was a skilled cook and talented server. Later Betty joined her husband Jim at their gas station in Sturbridge where she kept the books and worked by his side washing windshields as he pumped gas and did repairs. 
Betty loved her family. Her connection to children and animals was unrivaled. There was never a baby she couldn’t comfort. She raised a deer, a squirrel, and other orphaned animals. When she would go to her garden and call “Pretty Boy,” a cardinal would fly down to eat from her hand. She could even be found telling the little garden snake to move aside so they could share the area. Betty and Jim bred dachshunds and fancy fowl on their little farm. They enjoyed growing vegetables and flowers together. 
Later when they were able to spend winters in Florida, every evening they could be found as a quartet with Peggy and Charlie Bowen enjoying dinner out, followed by a few rounds of the cards. Betty’s hobbies included baking, knitting and crocheting and most notably, joining her sister Peggy in an all-day Saturday adventure of bargain hunting and tag sale seeking.
Betty leaves her sons James Perry Jr. of Hudson, Mass., and Edwin Perry Sr. (Pamela), of Woodstock ; her daughter Audrey Martinez (Jose) of Southbridge; grandchildren Edwin Perry Jr. (Lisa) of Oklahoma City, Peter Blash (Rachel), James P. Blash, Sarah Blash, Julia Blash, all of Southbridge, and Caleb Blash of Kansas City, Kan.; great-grandchildren Edwin and Samantha Perry and Jasper Blash; sisters Irene Anderson, Dorothy Horton, and Lorraine Howlett of Connecticut.
She is predeceased by her husband James; her sister Arlene (Peggy) Bowen; her brothers Milton (Kenny) and Russel; her granddaughter Helen Blash and her parents Clifford and Ruth French. 
The Funeral was Feb. 27 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial in the spring at N. Ashford Cemetery.
Donations: Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.

Katherine Raynsford
KILLINGLY — Katherine V. Raynsford, 71, of Alexander’s Lake, Killingly and Pomfret Center, died Feb. 12, 2019, at UMass Medical Center, University Campus, in Worcester.
She was born April 8, 1947, in Fall River Mass., daughter of Adelard and Anna Aubin.
She grew up in Killingly, graduated from HH Ellis Tech with a hairdressing and cosmetology license.
She married the love of her life Frank Ira Raynsford on June 26, 1965. They bought a home on the lake in 1965; in 1970 they moved to their new home in Pomfret Center where they raised three children.
Katherine worked as a CNA at Matulaitis Nursing Home where she cared for her second family, her patients.
She retired in 2003 after 27 years and moved back to Alexander’s Lake.
In addition to her husband of 53 years, she leaves a daughter Laurie Osborne; two sons Frank Jr. and Jamie; eight grandkids, four great-grandkids; nieces and nephews; closest friend Jeanie Hutala and her friend and neighbor throughout the years Jane Danielson.
She was predeceased by her parents, sister Barbara Hevesey, niece Debbie Shuron, great-niece Jessie Shuron and brother-in-law Don Raynsford and two great-grandkids.
The Funeral was Feb. 16 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial in the spring in South Cemetery Pomfret.
Donations: PAWS, 244 Rt. 171, Woodstock, CT 06281. 

Christine Southam
Christine Hallbergh Southam, died peacefully in her sleep, Jan. 21, 2019, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
She was born June 28, 1941, in Bronx, N.Y., to Hermine and John Hallbergh. Later she moved to Demarest, N.J., where she met her future husband, Larry Southam, while they were students at Northern Valley Regional High School. They met while being given a ride home from school by the school nurse.
She attended Douglass College in New Brunswick, N.J, majoring in home economics and education. She sang in the college chorus and with that group had the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1963. Chris and Larry were married on Aug. 24,1963, and moved to Springfield, Ohio. There she taught home economics at Tecumseh High School and had her first son, Peter, in 1965.
She and Larry later returned to Closter, N.J., where she had her second son, Andrew, in 1968. Once Andy reached kindergarten age, Christine decided to return to teaching. The family moved to Pomfret and she taught  at Putnam High School. In 1986 she moved to Killingly High School, finishing her teaching career in June 2003. During her 30-year teaching career she taught home economics, including cooking and sewing, as well as child development and nutrition. She even served as advisor to the alpine ski club, taking kids to Mt. Wachusett. She loved her students and felt the need to teach them the skills they would need to grow up to be self-sufficient people.
In retirement, she coached the middle school track and cross country teams at Pomfret Community School, served as a substitute teacher and developed the school’s sound garden.
Her other gardening pursuits included being a Connecticut Master Gardener. She ran a small plant sharing business, the Sharing Garden. Chris loved to travel. Her adventures included trips to Europe, Senegal, Machu Picchu, and a special trip to Israel with her granddaughter to visit her niece. Chris and Larry traveled to the National Speleological Society conventions held all over the U.S. She sang in the Northeast Concert Choir and she and Larry were in many musical productions  at Pomfret School and the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam. She could  tell wonderfully funny jokes that entertained many people, especially her family. She was an active member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Danielson and played hand-bells and sang for many years in the church choir.
Christine took up distance running in 1979. She ran in many Deary Road Races, and the Manchester Road Race became an important part of her Thanksgiving family tradition. She raced in Manchester with her children and grandchildren until she was in her 70s. She was known by all in her Murdock Road neighborhood for her presence on the roads and trails.
She loved to read and was a member of several book clubs. In addition, she would give copies of books she had enjoyed to members of her family so that they, too, could join in the conversation. Chris believed firmly that every child should be read to every day, even calling her grandson, Xander, in Seattle most evenings to share a book.
She leaves Larry, her husband of 55 years; her son Peter, of Bethel, Maine,  his wife Sarah and their children Samantha and Max, her son Andy of Seattle, and his wife Christine and their children Bella and Xander; her brother John Hallbergh (Janet) of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; her sister Marie Ruel of New Bern, N.C.. She was predeceased by her sister, Ann Bentkofsky.
A celebration of Christine’s life will be held during the month of April when the daffodils will be blooming. Donations: Quiet Corner Garden Club, PO Box 1007, Woodstock, CT 06281.

Rae Burton-Williams
WOODSTOCK —  Rae Burton-Williams, 95, of Perrin Rd., died Feb. 19, 2019, in the Davis Place Nursing Home.  She was the wife of the late Carey M. Williams.  Born in 1923 in Clinton, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Harry and Cora (Curtis) Williams.
Mrs. Williams, along with her husband, owned and operated the Trapalanda Stables. She was an artist and enjoyed making signs as a side business.  She enjoyed painting, gardening, baking, cooking and playing Rummy Cube.  She enjoyed decorating and cooking for her an annual Christmas party since the 1970s.  
She leaves her daughters, Jeanne Galuska (Andre) of Boca Raton, Fla., and Anita Williams of Woodstock; her nieces, Cora Howard and Michelle Cox; and her nephew, Harry Howard Jr. and his family. She was predeceased by her daughter, Sandra Trombley, her grandson, Craig Trombley, her sister, Barbara Howard and brother, Albert Burton.
Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Daniel J. Gomes
PUTNAM — Daniel J. Gomes, 66, died Feb. 12, 2019, at the Westview Healthcare, Dayville.
He was born in Worcester, son of the late Joseph Gomes and Elizabeth (McHugh) Gomes living in Putnam for many years. Daniel was a butcher.
He leaves his wife Mildred D. (Joyal) Gomes; a son Daniel A. Gomes (Sara Garcia-Gomes) of Pomfret; granddaughter Lennox; a daughter Shelby Gomes and her fiancée Jason Gilman of Webster; four brothers and his mother-in-law Helen Joyal and his little buddy Brody Garcia. Services were private. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

..
 

Details

Category: Current Issue

Wed. Feb. 27
Exhibit
N. GROSVENORDALE ---  The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present Art @ the Library, “Portrait of an Artist” by Steve Veilleux through March 28. Opening reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 7. www.thompsonpubliclibrary.org

Textile Exhibit
WILLIMANTIC --- The remarkable life of Sidonia Perlstein, Holocaust survivor and clothing designer, will be on display through April 28 at the Windham Textile and History Museum. "Sidonia's Thread: Crafting a Life from Holocaust to High Fashion" will showcase up to 50 garments created by Perlstein during her years in America. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. $7 for general admission; $5 for students and seniors (62+); free for museum members and kids under 5 years old, and Eastern students. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thur. Feb. 28
Trivia Fund-raiser
PUTNAM ---The Putnam Lions Club will present Trivia Challenge at 7 p.m. at the Crossings Restaurant. Benefits the Young Antlers.

Fri. March 1
‘The Last Romance’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Last Romance” through March 3. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.

Sat. March 2
Tag Sale
KILLINGLY --- A tag sale will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine at the Killingly Public Library. Benefits PAWS Cat Shelter. 860-315-1228.

Day of Prayer
KILLINGLY --- The Killingly-Brooklyn Interfaith Council will present its World Day of Prayer, highlighting Slovenia's history and cultural diversity; at noon at the United Methodist Church of Danielson; Slovenian luncheon at noon; program to follow. All welcome.

Sun. March 3
Concert
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a concert featuring Take Note at 3 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Benefits the center’s Education Endowment Fund. Free.

Mon. March 4
Exercise Group
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the Woodstock Town Hall large meeting room on the lower. Minimum fee. Local seniors welcome. Please check the town website www.woodstockCT.gov for current schedule or call 860-928-6595.

Fri. March 8
Teen Weekend
POMFRET ---The Windham Tolland 4-H Camp Spring Teen Weekend will be held March 8 through 10 at the camp on Taft Pond Road. $50. Preregister by March 1. 860-974-3379.

Sun. March 10
Photo Contest
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present a nature photography contest reception and exhibit from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Contest entry forms and info at ctaudubon.org/Pomfret-home. 860-928-4948.

Wed. March 13
Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Putnam Elks Club on Edmond Street. 1-800-RED CROSS.

Fri. March 15
Irish Night
WOODSTOCK --- The United Services 18th Annual Irish Night will be held at 6 p.m. at The Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock. Fund-raiser for United Services.  $40 each or $350 for a table of 10 and available until March 8 by visiting unitedservicesct.org/events/irish-night.

Sat. March 16
At Your Service
PUTNAM --- The Rotary clubs of Putnam, Killingly-Brooklyn and Plainfield will present “At Your Service. A volunteerism Expo” from 9 a.m. to noon at Putnam High School.  More than 100 volunteer opportunities. Snow date March 23.  Free. For more info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mon. March 18
Film
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret and the Town of Pomfret Green Team will present “No Impact Man” (2009) at 6:30 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Snow date March 19. Free. 860-928-4948.

Wed. March 20
Trust Meeting
POMFRET CENTER --- A Special Membership Meeting of the Wyndham Land Trust will e held at 7 p.m. at the Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret center on Day Road. Members are encouraged to attend to vote on updates to the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. The annual stewards meeting will follow immediately after the vote. Those interested in the Trust are welcome to attend.

Thur. March 21
Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- Dining for a Cause will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Crossing on Main Street to benefit PAWS Cat Shelter.

Sat. March 23
Comedy
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “New England Comedy All Stars” at 7:30 p.m. March 23, June 1, Sept. 14 and Nov. 16. $24. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org

Fund-raiser Dinner
PUTNAM --- PHSAAA and PASS will present a Chicken Parmesan Dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 at the K of C Hall on Providence Street. $10 at the Putnam Recreation Department.  Takeout recommended. Benefits the PHS athletic banquet and activities for Putnam After School Service.

Sun. March 24
Service
BROOKLYN --- A Christian Healing Service, formerly held at St. Philip’s Church in Putnam, will be held at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church on Rt. 6. 860-774-9352. All welcome.

Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present “Trail Wood Non-Fiction Book Club” from 2 to 4 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers.  860-928-4948.

Thur. March 28
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present “Trail Wood Artists In-Residence Exhibit and Panel Discussion” at 5:30 p.m. at the Yale University Kroon Hall. Free to the public. Ctaudubon.org/trail-wood-home.

Lyme Program
EASTFORD --- The Eastford Senior Citizens are hosting a Learn-at-Lunch program at 11 a.m. at the Eastford Town Office Building’s Lower Level. Speaker Linda J. Colangelo, Education and Communications Coordinator for the Northeast District Department of Health will discuss “Lyme Disease Prevention, other Tick-Bourne & Mosquito-Bourne Illnesses & Rabies Prevention.” $7 & includes lunch. RSVP before March 25: 860-538-8868.

Sat. March 30
Benefit Concert
KILLINGLY --- Broadway Live Productions will present “Voices in Concert” with the New England Jazz Ensemble at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Killingly High School theatre. It benefits the KHS Music and Drama programs and the QVCC Foundation. Mybroadwaylive.com


.

Details

Category: Current Issue

I was in my early 20s when I started wearing glasses to see distances.  If it had been up to me, I would have held off getting the glasses as I was okay with things looking a little blurry, but when I started stating the letters on the bottom row of the eye chart with question marks... “E? X? No wait…T?”, my eye doctor insisted!
A couple of decades later, and I have noticed that my eyesight has worsened a bit.  At my last annual check-up, I informed my eye doctor that it was getting harder to make the adjustment to read anything with my glasses on and so I needed to take them off and hold books or magazines or forms, closer.  If I was wearing contact lenses, I found myself extending my arm the maximum distance it would go in order to read what I was holding.  He remarked that this was normal for my age and would I like to get bifocals?  I certainly wasn’t ready for bifocals (after all, my MOTHER wears bifocals) and promptly said “No thank you.  I don’t mind taking my glasses on and off.  It doesn’t really bother me.”  I found his response interesting as he quietly, yet assertively, said “You will.”  I mistakenly assumed, this was now a challenge to see how long I could, indeed, hold off…
In my efforts to curtail needing bifocals, I purchased inexpensive reading glasses and tried to wear my contact lenses more often.  This seemed to result in more of a complication to see because I did not desire, in the least, to wear my readers around my neck and if I didn’t, I kept misplacing them.
In addition, 14 hours of contact wearing really started to bother my eyes.  Since wearing my contacts was not a solution, I found myself starting to take my glasses on and off about a hundred times a day, which resulted in me constantly searching for where I placed them.  It’s not that I actually forget where I place them, it’s just that I can’t clearly see anything further than about a foot in front of me and, therefore, can’t SEE where my glasses are.  This has resulted in me accidentally sitting on or leaning on my glasses on more than one occasion.  It has been only nine months since my last eye exam, and, despite my best efforts, I concede defeat.  I am growing weary of making, what feels like, a tremendous effort, to see.
I guess getting bifocals is like so many other things in life; something we choose to do, simply because we are getting older, like eating less spicy foods and not wearing makeup to bed! I cannot stop my eyesight from growing worse any more than I can stop my hair from turning gray, but I certainly can, and will, find a way to make it less obvious.  Or maybe, our eyesight growing worse as we age is just proportionate to what we want to see in the mirror—or, for that matter, NOT see.
Clairol. Clairol.
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!

.

Details

Category: Current Issue

MOORSEVILLE, N.C. —  Putnam Science Academy took a big step last weekend as a program loading up the buses and heading 800 miles down to North Carolina to compete in the Independent School National Championships.
The Lady Mustangs finished out the regular season with a 20-6 record heading into their second appearance in the National Tournament and were trying to improve on last year’s one and done loss in the first round. And they made it to the final 4 this time.
“We are ready this time around” said Head Coach Derek Marchione. “Last year we had different things going on down the stretch with our team but this year I feel like we are more prepared and focused on the task at hand.”
PSA was laser focused.
The Lady Mustangs were ranked #4 and had a match-up with Empower Academy which had a familiar face in Kayla Robinson. Robinson played for Marchione on last year’s Mustangs team before transferring at season’s end.
Putnam Science refused to be one and done this year as they raced out to a 35-18 lead at halftime before pouring it on for a 64-43 win to advance to the second round. Rhode Island commit Xianna Josephs led PSA with 13 points in a balanced offensive attack with New Hampshire commit Helena Dellaruelle adding 11 points and Marist commit Trinasia Kennedy forcing turnovers on the defensive end that led to 8 points. Three other Mustangs: Ariana Koivisto, Abby Robinson and Aliyah Brittan, had 6 points each. “They followed the game-plan with precision today” Marchione said. “The energy was there, the effort was there, I’m really proud of the way the girls executed not only offensively but defensively as well.”
Putnam Science Academy then set up a date with Lincoln Prep, a talented Prep team from Canada with 3 Division 1 players on their roster. The Mustangs would play even better than they did in the first round, running away with a 72-47 victory to move on to the Final 4. Junior forward Abby Robinson was a huge factor in the game dominating the paint and scoring at will throughout. Robinson had 10 first half points and carried first half momentum into the second half, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Providence College commit Fatima Lee added 13 points and the Mustangs were geared up, playing their best ball headed into the final 4 versus #1 seed and North Carolina’s own Westridge Academy.
The scorching hot play came to a cold end in the final 4 with Westridge pulling away late to win 55-38.
PSA had just 3 players score in the 1st half as they trailed 24-18. Ariana Koivsito, a second-year player for PSA and a Southern New Hampshire commit, did all she could leading PSA with 10 points out of the team’s 18. Trinasia Kennedy buried a corner 3 as play began in the second half to cut the lead to 3, 24-21, but that was as close as the Mustangs would get.
“We just couldn’t get any shots to fall” Marchione said after the heart-breaking loss. “We played so well in those first 2 games and then just went cold. Have to give credit to Westridge; they came to play and did what they had to do to win.” Koivisto finished with 13 points and Trinasia Kennedy’s impressive weekend continued as she added 11 points.
Upset after ultimately falling short of their goal, the Lady Mustangs had to get refocused and not give up competing in the third-place game the following morning versus #3 seed St. Laurent from Canada. The Mustangs started sluggish trailing by as many as 9 before going on a 10-0 run to end the half up 25-22. Back and forth the two teams went down the stretch answering one another with big baskets. Ariana Koivisto, in her last game as a Mustang, wasn’t going down without a fight. Koivisto led PSA once again with 10 first-half points and ended her day tied for the team lead with 14 points. It was Fatima Lee who redeemed herself for the Mustangs. Lee, a post-grad and already committed to play Division 1 at Providence, had one final game in a Mustang uniform. After not being able to find any rhythm against Westridge and going scoreless, arguably her worst game as a member of the Mustangs, Fatima did what she’s been capable of all season long: Hit big shots. After a go-ahead 3 in the corner by St. Laurent with 20 seconds remaining, PSA raced down the court, not calling timeout and tried to a basket as they trailed by 1, 48-47. Kennedy pump-faked in the corner and dished the ball to Xianna Josephs at the left elbow. Xianna spotted Fatima on the right wing as St. Laurent was in zone and were trying to rotate towards the ball. Josephs delivered the pass to Fatima and she rose up from 3 and sank the shot to give the Mustangs a 50-48 lead with 7.5 seconds to play. “I was so happy for Fatima when that shot went in” Marchione said ecstatically during postgame. “She was really hard on herself for the game the night before against Westridge and she didn’t want to go out like that. I told the girls before we played that we are going to compete hard and play the Mustang way.” St. Laurent quickly advanced the ball to the other end and had a game tying lay-up attempt but failed to convert and the Mustangs held on to capture third place in the National Tournament.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

..