As a junior on last year’s PSA varsity basketball team, Abdul Seck was an energy guy. He made the hustle plays, did the dirty work. One of those role player-types. He had a lot of older teammates, and he often deferred to them and their seniority.
This year, Abdul Seck is taking a backseat to no one. The guard from Queens, N.Y., is averaging a team-high 22.7 points per game, helping Putnam Science Academy win five of its first six games (he was taking the SATs Dec. 7 and missed Game No. 7, a loss). And his explanation of how he’s made the jump is pretty simple.
“It’s all confidence,” he said. “I always knew I was able to do this but I just knew I wouldn’t be able to do it if my confidence wasn’t up. I worked on all parts of my game this summer to give me more confidence.
“If I miss a shot, I don’t think about it and just get on to the next play. Last year, I would be hesitant. I wouldn’t know if I should pass it or shoot it, and if I did shoot, it wouldn’t be with confidence, so it would be a miss. Now I just let it fly.”
Teammate Zach Boulay saw Seck concede shots on a lot of occasions last year. But he noticed a different guy during open gyms in the preseason.
“Last year, he had a lot of older kids with him,” Boulay said. “This year though, he’s really showing that he can play. You could see, he looked really good in the preseason in open runs, even with the prep guys.
“He definitely improved his jumpshot. And he’s got a lot more confidence. You can see his confidence with the ball. He’s able to take people off the dribble and create for himself very well this year. That makes a he difference for him.”
PSA coach Dana Valentine kept in touch with Seck over the summer and knew the hard work that was being done. So when he took the floor for the first time in the preseason, Valentine expected to see some improvement.
But what he saw caught him a bit off-guard. He wasn’t expecting back-to-back 30-point games sandwiched between 23 points in the season-opener and 21 against Commonwealth Academy.
“The 30-point games, I didn’t necessarily expect him to make that kind of jump,” Valentine said. “But it’s great to see his hard work paying off. He deserves the success he’s having right now.”
Seck is considering his options for next year. Colleges have shown some interest in him to this point; a few more games likes the ones he’s been having and they will be forced to show more. He played high school ball at Francis Lewis in Queens, and admits he wasn’t prepared for the step up in competition level. He wasn’t used to not being one of the top players on the court.
So he did something about it.
“I knew there were a lot of guys better than me on this level so I knew I had to work to get better,” he said. “I knew I just needed the confidence to become a better player. Now I just have to keep doing it and get better.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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And then there is Croft
Elisha Clinckscale’s got it figured out. The Putnam Science Academy girls’ varsity basketball player looks around her team and sees different talents from each girl.
There are those who can defend, those who can pass, those who can rebound, those who dribble and drive, those who shoot it well.
And then, Clinkscale says, there is Zanashia Croft.
“Zanashia can do all of them,” she said. “She can do everything. She’s just that type of player. There’s not much I can say about that girl other than she is a bucket. She’s always knocking shots down. But I trust her on defense too, blocking shots, rebounding. She does it all for us.”
Through the Mustangs’ first three games this season — all wins by the way — Croft, a freshman from New London, has scored 22, 26, and 34 points, respectively.
First-year coach Katurah Andrews loves watching Croft play, saying she knows her way around the court. Andrews also said Croft can sometimes get in her own head, but when she is able to break free of that, as she was in the team’s most recent game against Commonwealth Academy on Dec. 5, look out.
“She was awesome, on both ends of the floor,” Andrews said. “She pretty much did everything that we needed her to do. That’s going to be her role for us this year I think. She can score and she can play great defense. We’re going to need her to keep doing those things for us.”
Croft plays all over the floor for the Mustangs but is most comfortable in the backcourt as opposed to in the post. She brought the ball up the floor the majority of the time versus Commonwealth, which suited her well too.
“I take pride in the fact that I’m not just an offensive player,” Croft said. “I’m definitely stronger on offense but I try to do my best on defense and help in some way, however I can.
“This season so far for me, I’ve been pretty excited about it. I’m glad to be on this team and play with this group of girls. I think I started off pretty good in preseason but now I’m coming on stronger and doing better in practice and the games. I can feel my confidence rise with each game and during games. Once I’ve made a couple of shots, I realize that most of them are probably going in when I set my feet and have the right form.”
Croft and her family have dedicated themselves to make the ride up from New London each day for school and the oftentimes late-night practices. It could have been a lot easier, in some ways at least, to stay home and attend New London High. But that didn’t really cross her mind.
“I decided to come here for basketball. It’s a good program,” Croft said. “My goals are to work hard and keep on pushing. Long-term, it’s to have colleges lined up for me to choose from and then pick the best fit for me and go play there.
“This is a better fit for me than New London would have been for those things. I’m really happy I’m here.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Woodstock public schools
Monday: Bacon hamburgers, carrot sticks, fruit. Tuesday: Waffles, sausage, fruit. Wednesday: Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes broccoli, fruit. Thursday: Beef and bean burrito, fruit. Friday: Pizza, green beans, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Sloppy Joes, broccoli. Tuesday Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato sup, cheddar Goldfish crackers. Wednesday: Spaghetti, meatballs, green beans. Thursday - Holiday Feast: Chicken tenders, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, cookies. Friday - half day: Putnam Special Pizza, salad.
Putnam High
Monday: Waffle Bar or chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: Rodeo BBQ rib sandwiches or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: General Tsos chicken or turkey apple cheddar cheese panini. Thursday - Holiday Feast: Turkey dinner or chef salad. Friday - half day: Stuffed-crust pizza or fish sandwiches.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Shepherd Pie, carrots, rainbow tray with fruit or veggies. Tuesday: Chicken fajitas, rainbow tray. Wednesday: Bacon cheddar burgers and rainbow tray. Thursday: Sloppy Joes, rainbow tray. Friday: French bread pizza, rainbow tray.
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Wed. Dec. 11
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will host a winter art show through the end of December at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 860-928-4948.
Holiday Nature Store
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will host a Holiday Nature Store from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 860-928-4948.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library will present “Transitions” artwork by Anna Mancini through Dec. 28. 860-923-9779.
Fri. Dec. 13
‘Miracle on 34th Street’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Miracle on 34th Street” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 15 and 22. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.
Sat. Dec. 14
Cookie Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of LaSalette Church on Rt. 6 will sell holiday cookies by the pound from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church basement.
Pet Food Drive
DANIELSON ---Pet Pals Northeast, a local animal welfare organization, will be collecting cat and dog food, dry or canned (Purina brands preferred) from 10 a.m. to noon at the Killingly Public Library. Cash donations always welcome. 860-317-1720. No redeemable cans or bottles today.
Paws Open House
WOODSTOCK --- Paws Cat Shelter on Rt. 171 will hold a holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 and Dec. 15. Gifts, ornaments, baked goods, Giving Tree and more. Also open for adoptions. For more info, pre-approvals for adoptions: 860-315-1228.
Wreaths Across America
PUTNAM --- The National Wreaths Across America Day will be held at noon at Veterans Park. American Legion Post 13 will provide the speaking program.
Concert
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Baptist Church on Church Street will present a Holy Day Concert from 6 to 8 p.m. All welcome.
Sun. Dec. 15
Fund-raiser Breakfast
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Thompson Lions Club will hold an all-you-can-eat Holiday Breakfast from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post #67 on Thompson Road. Adults $9; children under 12 $5. Gently used eyeglasses and frames will also be collected. Benefits local charities.
Winter Festival
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Recreation Department is hosting a Winter Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Roseland Park Barn. Food, music, weather-dependent bonfire. Free. All welcome. The Woodstock American Legion Benson-Flugel Post 111 will be presenting a Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4:30 inside the barn.
Lessons and Carols
POMFRET --- Members of the Pomfret School Department of Music will present a candlelight service, “An Evening of Lessons & Carols, at 7 p.m. at the Clark Memorial Chapel. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments follow in Common Room of the Main House. All welcome. Free.
Tues. Dec. 17
Community Conversation
PUTNAM --- The school superintendent and the Board of Education invite community members to a Community Conversation on the priorities of the district pre-budget at 6 p.m. in the Board of Education Conference Room at PHS.
Thur. Dec. 19
Historical Society
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. in the Old Pomfret Town House Town House Road. Those interested in becoming a member and others are invited to attend. 860-460-6689.
Fri. Dec. 20
Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will host a blood drive to benefit patients in need from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Robert H. Field Conference Center. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments encouraged; 860- 928-6541 ext. 2532.
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