D’Maurian Williams showed little effect of missing some time with an ankle injury and a sickness, as he was on his game last weekend for the Putnam Science Academy boys’ prep basketball team.

Williams helped the third-ranked Mustangs to a pair of wins Jan. 17 and 19 at the Hoophall Prep Showcase, averaging 18.5 points, while making 13-of-17 shots, including 7-of-8 on 3-pointers.

“D’Maurian was really, really good,” said coach Tom Espinosa. “I’ve said it before, he’s a guy who can get past his defender and score at the rim and he’s a guy who can shoot it, too. He had a nice weekend for us.”

Williams scored 14 points in the first game, a 79-42 win against an overmatched Golden State Prep, from Oakland, Calif. Golden State flew across the country the day of the game and landed in Boston around 4 p.m., then played PSA about four hours later. Williams made five of his six shots, and all four of his 3-pointers.

Vlad Goldin also shot the ball extremely well, connecting on 9-of-10 shots to finish with 19 points. Elijah Everett-Hutchins had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Mustangs, who led 50-19 at halftime.

Williams’ stellar play continued Jan. 19 when he made eight-of-11 field goals and finished with 23 points in an 87- 66 win over a tough New Hampton School. New Hampton had already knocked off Brewster Academy, the No. 1 team in the country, this season, and lost to IMG Academy, the likely new No. 1 team in the country, by just two points at this same event.

“We looked really good against them,” Espinosa said. “Our guards were too much for them, and they couldn’t match up with our bigs.”

Guard Hassan Diarra finished with 12 points, while bigs Everett-Hutchins and Goldin combined for 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Mustangs (18-1).

Boys’ Varsity

The boys’ varsity team won two of its three games last week, knocking off Our Savior Lutheran 101-95 and Post University JV 104-89 before falling 88-85 to Springfield Commonwealth Academy in overtime.

In the win over OSL, Amir Sanders scored 29 points, Darryl Simmons added 22, and Abdul Seck finished with 21 as PSA mounted a second-half comeback.

Travis Mangual chipped in with 12 points and Jaden Brewington 11 for the Mustangs (8-7), who trailed by 11 at halftime. Those five played the final 10-plus minutes of the second half without any substitutions.

“They played their butts off,” said coach Dana Valentine. “I’m proud of their resilience. Guys are buying into playing for each other, and special things can happen when that’s the case.”

The strong play continued against Post, when Seck and Simmons led a balanced scoring attack with 21 points apiece. Mangual and Sanders both finished with 14 points, while Brewington added 12 points and Zach Boulay chipped in with 11.

PSA fell behind 11-0 in the first two minutes, prompting Valentine to call a timeout and urging his team to pick up its play.

“I think we fell asleep at the wheel,” Valentine said. “It was very loose before the game and I had a feeling we might start slow. But after the timeout, they started to ramp it up defensively. Even the first half, we weren’t great for the whole half. I thought in the second half we were much better defensively. That’s why you get two halves, I guess.”

A day later, the Mustangs played well again but came up short against Commonwealth. Sanders scored 33 points, Seck 17, and Brewington 11 for the Mustangs, who dropped to 9-8. Seven of those losses have been by five points or less.

PSA’s boys’ varsity 2 team won its lone game of the week, topping Plainfield 68-47 behind 12 points from Erwan Menguy. Charles Nicole and Khalil Gooden finished with eight points apiece for the Mustangs.

Girls’ Teams

On the girls’ side, the prep team continued to fight through the toughest part of its schedule. The Mustangs dropped their third straight game, 61-55 to Crestwood of Toronto at the Rose Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sabou Gueye had 14 points and five rebounds, but PSA was outscored 20-5 in the fourth quarter.

“We fell into their game,” coach Devin Hill said. “They pressed us and we repeatedly took the shots they wanted us to take.”

Lani Cornfield had 13 points and four assists, and Ness William added seven points and five rebounds for the Mustangs (10-7).

And finally, the girls’ varsity team won its only game this week, handling Commonwealth Academy 79-31, behind Zanashia Croft, who hit six 3-pointers on her way to 26 points.

Sophia Marcos added 16 points, May Santiago 11, and Aden Adebali nine for the Mustangs (7-1).

Stephen Nalbandian

Sports Information Director

Putnam Science Academy

Hernandez named Gatorade Connecticut Volleyball Player of the Year

For the second consecutive year, The Woodstock Academy has a Gatorade Player of the Year.

It was announced on Monday that Centaurs senior Paula Hernandez has been named the Gatorade Connecticut Volleyball Player of the Year.

Last year, Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball player, Tre Mitchell, who is now starting at UMass, was the Gatorade Connecticut boys’ basketball Player of the Year.

"It's just so well deserved," said Woodstock Academy coach Adam Bottone. "We all know she is a tremendous athlete but she is also a really bright young lady who excels in the classroom as well. It's a great honor for her especially considering everything she has been through and had to overcome. All the adversity that she has faced. It's just awesome."

Hernandez came to Woodstock Academy as a sophomore following Hurricane Maria's devastation of her native Puerto Rico.

She led the Centaurs to Class L state championship matches in her first two years and to a state semifinal this past season when she finished with 500 kills and 622 digs.

She added 230 service points including 66 aces.

Over her 2 ½ year career at Woodstock Academy, she compiled over 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.

“It’s been really fun here and really different from Puerto Rico. I would say that I played much more passionately because it’s a completely different environment and I loved it. Hopefully, I will be back in the future,” Hernandez said following the state semifinal.

Hernandez was named Connecticut High School Coaches Association Player of the Year last season.

"The Gatorade Player of the Year is another feather in the cap for her," Bottone said.

Hernandez recently announced that she planned to attend Eastern Connecticut State University in the fall.

Marc Allard

Director of Sports Information

The Woodstock Academy

Let the

fund-raising

begin

POMFRET --- ThePomfretPublicLibraryispoisedfor itsfirstmajoradditioninmorethan40 years.In November2018, thelibrarywas awardedaCTStatePublicLibraryConstructionGrantinthe amountof $421,000. Itisnow readytoembarkon aCapitalCampaignwithagoaltoraise $500,000.

ThePomfretPublicLibraryhas beenacommunityinstitutionfor approximately280 years, openingas thefirstlibraryinEasternConnecticutin1739.  Thecurrentlibrarybuildingwas constructedin1911 by Mrs. GeorgeBradley,inmemoryof herhusband, on landdonatedby BenjaminGrosvenor. Sincethattimethebuildinghas witnessedtwo expansions.Thefirstwas in 1976 when thechildren’sroomwas added,thankstoagiftfromtheestateof AbileneAverill, andthesecondin1994 withtheadditionof theSarahAicherMemorialGardenandDeck.

Thenew expansion,whichwilladd2,000 squarefeettothelibrary,effectivelydoublingitssize, willserveas anew hub for thecommunity.TheincreasedlibraryspacewillprovidethePomfret communitywithrooms for creativeandeducationalgrowth, communitymeetings,andother socialgatherings.

AccordingtoLibraryDirectorLaurieBell,thecurrentfacilityisoperatingbeyonditscapacity. “Thislittlelibraryprovidesafulllevelof servicewithaverysmallstaffinaverysmallspace. Althoughwe haveno meetingroom,we hostseveralprogramsandeventseveryweek.Each time,thestaffhas torearrangefurnitureandshelving.Sometimeswe havetocloseoff asection of thelibraryaltogether,makingitinaccessibletoindividualsbrowsing for books.”

The20,000-volumelibraryhas amembershipof morethan1,600 patrons,averagesmorethan50 visitorsperday,andisopen32 hours eachweek.

TheCapitalCampaignfund-raisingeffortisbeingspearheadedby attorneyKateCerrone,who is servingas thegeneralchairperson.PomfretresidentsMarcandMary Archambaultareassisting Cerroneas thecampaignvicechairpersons.LibraryBoardof TrusteesChairpersonGinger

LusaandformerboardmemberAnne Millerareintegralpartsof theleadershipteam.

“We’veassembledagreatgroup of leadersandarecurrentlyinvitingpeopletoassistus inour effortstocontactindividuals,businesses andorganizationswho canjointheeffort.Our committeehas worked diligentlyinpreparingfor thiscampaign,”saidCerrone.“I’mvery confidentthatwithaconcertedeffortwe willreachour goal.It’s anexcitingtimefor thelibrary andthecommunityof Pomfret,”she added.

A kickoffevent,whichisopentothepublic,isat 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 atGrill37 inPomfret.Theplansfor theprojectandfund-raisingeffortwillbesharedwith the publicduringabriefpresentation.Lightrefreshments,includingacashbar,will beavailable.If interestedinattending,pleasecallthelibraryat: 860-928-3475 or registeronlineatwww.pomfretlibrary.org.

“Thisprojectisso excitingfor thetown of Pomfret.Librarieshaveahugeimpacton communitiesandthisprojectwilltrulybenefitour region.It’s excitingtoseepeople’s enthusiasmandgenerosityastheylearnaboutthisexpansion.  We'rehopingforalargeturnout atthekickoffandareeagertosharethevisionwithtownfriends,"saidMaryArchambault.