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1,000 Points
Chase Anderson is surrounded by his teammates immediately after scoring his 1,000th career point with 3:39 left in the third quarter of a 67-50 win over the Redmen. Photo by Greg Smith/The Woodstock Academy.
The nerves didn’t kick in right away.
Woodstock Academy senior Chase Anderson knew he needed 20 points going into the game at Killingly Saturday to become one of the few who have played at the school to score 1,000 points in his career.
“When the first buzzer sounded, I was thinking, ‘Hey, it’s just 20, not much.’ But when I got into the game, it was, emotionally, on my shoulders,” Anderson said.
That monkey on his back would not be shed until the third quarter but Anderson did accomplish his goal. He scored 31 points and not only reached his personal milestone, but led the Centaurs to a 67-50 win over the Redmen.
Anderson was well on his way to 1,000 in the first half.
He scored 12 points but the Centaurs failed to pull away, leading Killingly only 28-26.
The Centaurs (7-7, 4-2 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II) were playing a bit into the Redmen’s hands.
Killingly wanted to keep the pace of the game slower.
“I was concerned, but when we sped it up, they got really aggressive. I decided to back off a little and let them slow it down and see what happens. Fortunately, we were able to close out on some long rebounds and put together a little run,” said Woodstock Academy coach Marty Hart.
The Centaurs went on an 11-6 run to start the third quarter and take a seven-point lead.
The last basket in that run was also the biggest for Anderson on the day.
Anderson put one down just 18 seconds into the second half, added a pair of free throws at the 6:15 mark of the third and two more at 4:07.
His 1,000th career point came with 3:39 left in the third in the easiest of fashion- a nice little layup that was not challenged.
“It was an easy shot,” Anderson said. “Just another play in my book, I don’t really keep track. It was a 1,000, not that many people do it. It’s nice to get into four figures and be on the list.”
That list is a pretty short one at Woodstock Academy.
Anderson is believed to be the fifth player to reach the milestone in school history.
The senior didn’t reach the mark in traditional fashion.
Most high school players who reach 1,000 in their career have a strong freshman year.
Anderson had just six points.
“I picked up the slack in my sophomore year and there were no seniors last year so I got to shine and this year has been going great.
Anderson finished with 326 points and a 14.8 point per game scoring average as a sophomore. He followed that up by averaging 16.4 points per game last season and scoring 393 points. He has 286 points in his first 14 games this season for a 20.4 per game average.
“I was relieved when it happened. It meant we could go back to playing basketball; we went on a nice run and won the game. That’s all that matters,” Anderson said.
Hart presented Anderson with a commemorative ball and a medallion when the game was paused briefly to announce Anderson’s accomplishment.
“I’m thrilled for Chase and our team,” Hart said. “He works hard. He’s a great leader, does a lot of great things for us. He’s a great facilitator, passer, strong rebounder and defender. We’re glad when the ball finds its way to his hands because he puts it in the hole. He sees another guy open; he gets them the ball and helps us score.”
The Centaurs did a good job of getting each other the ball in the second half against Killingly.
The seven-point advantage held through the third quarter.
The Centaurs extended it into double digits midway through the fourth.
Anderson hit a basket to make it 52-41, but a Shayne Bigelow (11 points) 3-pointer for Killingly (5-10, 1-5) cut the deficit to eight.
Woodstock Academy then added another highlight to its day.
Cole Hackett (eight points) went into the lane, but couldn’t get a shot off. Making like a football center, he snapped the ball through his legs to Luke Mathewson who converted the bucket.
“We’ve really upped our ball handling and passing conditioning. We’re doing zig-zag passing, three-man weave, a lot of continuous motion stuff where you have to be in the right spot for the pass or you won’t be able to keep up with the process,” Hart said.
But the Hackett pass even caught the coach off guard.
“I think he may have a future as a long snapper,” Hart laughed. “I was blocked. I didn’t see it come out, but I knew the only place it could have come out was between his legs.”
Ethan Adams was the only other player in double figures for the Centaurs with 10.
Luke Desaulnier led Killingly with 13.
The win couldn’t have come at a better time for the Centaurs.
Feb. 1 they traveled to Mansfield and suffered a heart-breaking 81-77 double overtime loss to the E.O. Smith Panthers.
“It was a very tough loss. We could have closed it out but things didn’t go our way,” Anderson said.
The Centaurs trailed by three in a high-scoring first quarter, 25-22, but took the lead when they held their hosts to just eight second quarter points.
It was a 51-44 Woodstock Academy lead going into the fourth, but E.O. Smith rallied to tie the game.
“We had a little cushion at the end, but they got hot, made some good plays. We had chances, they had chances and we had to go to overtime twice to figure it out,” Hart said.
The two teams each scored six points in the first overtime period, but the Panthers doubled up on the Centaurs in the second, 12-6.
Aaron Johnson paced the Centaurs with 28 points including five 3-pointers.
“He’s a sparkplug,” Hart said. “I keep saying that because he gets us going. Early in the game, they zoned us and the ball found his hands and it found the hoop really nicely,” Hart said.
Johnson had 14 of his points, including four of his 3-pointers, in the first half.
Anderson added 13 of his 23 points in the second half and Hackett tossed in 18 in the loss.
Hart was just happy the team didn’t have long to think about the loss.
“If we didn’t win (Saturday’s) game, they start to stack up, but we played the right way and came away with the ‘W’ (against Killingly). It was good to put E.O. Smith behind us. After a double overtime loss, the best thing you can do is play right away. I didn’t want to be on a bus again (at 9:30 a.m. Saturday), but we were,” Hart said.
Jan. 29 the Centaurs made 15-of-27 shots in the first half to bolt out to a 20-point lead at the break and cruised to an 83-52 win over the Bacon Academy Bobcats at the Alumni Fieldhouse.
Anderson led the Centaurs with 24 points while Johnson and Mathewson had 12 each.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
WoodstockAcademy
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The Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball team, ranked No. 3 in the country in most prep polls, raised its record to 28-1 with a pair of victories at the National Prep School Invitational at Rhode Island College over the weekend.
Tre Mitchell scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 76-62 win over Link Year Prep Feb. 1.
The Centaurs followed that up Feb. 3 with a 92-64 win over DME Academy.
.T.J. Weeks 23 points (4 steals) in the win while Mikal Gjerde added 11 points and Noah Fernandes tossed in 11 points with 6 assists, 3 steals.
Blue gets to 20 wins
The Woodstock Academy Blue prep team raised its record to 20-7 Feb. 2 with a 90-66 win over Rocky Hill School from Rhode Island at the Alumni Fieldhouse at Woodstock Academy.
Kaleb Thornton returned to the lineup and delivered 22 points for the Centaurs. Siddiq Canty added 21.
Good win
As soon as NBA Basketball Academy walked into the gym, the Woodstock Academy Blue prep basketball squad knew they probably were going to have their hands full.
“We expected them to be difficult. We saw them walk into the gym and they were very big and they were very physical. We came out and played hard (Tuesday) and got the ‘W,’” said Isaiah Jones.
Not only was the team from Mexico City big and physical, it didn’t give up either.
The Centaurs had to battle to the end before they pulled out the 74-70 win Jan. 29.
The Blue squad built its biggest lead, 12 points, with 7 minutes, 24 seconds to play on a basket by Dyson Frank.
The Utah resident was a key force in the second half when he scored all 11 of his points.
But an 11-2 run by NBA Academy cut the lead to three, 63-60, with 4:46 left and the battle was joined.
Srjda Marinkovich added a basket and Guillem Gonzalez had two free throws to put the Centaurs back up by seven.
NBA Academy knocked that down to as little as three, 67-64, only to see Woodstock Academy build it back to nine with 1:03 left.
NBA Academy scored six of the last seven points, but fell just short.
Isaiah Jones paced the Centaurs with 19 points including four 3-pointers, three in the first half.
“I was feeling good,” said Jones, from El Dorado, Calif.
It was a good thing.
Because while the outside shots were dropping, Ty Mosley and Canty also found the range from beyond the arc in the first half, the Centaurs missed numerous shots inside the paint. That was partially due to the influence of 6-foot, 11-inch Oumar Ballo who didn’t block many shots but altered a host of the Centaurs opportunities.
The win was the fourth in five games for the Blue team.
“We struggled at bit in the beginning of the season and we’re just trying to get back on track and get a win streak going,” Jones said.
The Centaurs picked up another win Jan. 31, 98-82, over the Mitchell College JV in New London.
Jeff Planutis scored 18 in that win while Canty added 17.
Indoor track
The Indoor track season continues to wind down with the Eastern Connecticut Conference boys’ and girls’ championships held Feb. 2 at the Coast Guard Academy.
The Woodstock Academy girls’ team placed fifth out of the seven schools competing in the Division I championship.
Julia Theriaque had to go against Norwich Free Academy’s Allyson Lewis in the high jump which was no easy task.
Lewis set a new standard for ECC athletes to shoot for when she cleared the bar at 5-feet, 8-inches.
Theriaque, a junior, finished second at 5-2.
“We had some very specific training to get her mentally prepared for jumps at higher heights and it paid off. Julia had one of the best jumping days I have seen from her. She had consistently clean jumps, showed much more power on takeoff, “ said Woodstock Academy indoor track coach Josh Welch.
Theriaque’s finish in the ECC will make her the top seed in the Class L state championship meet which will be held at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven Feb. 1.
“I think Julia has an excellent shot at advancing from the state class meet to the State Open and being competitive there as well. As it stands she is one of the favorites for the Class L championships by heights entered. If she can replicate what she did at the ECC championship or improve on it, she has an excellent chance,” Welch said.
Theriaque was, at least, partly responsible for 16 of the 29 points for the Centaurs scored Feb. 2.
She anchored the sprint medley team which finished fourth and also included Ivy Gelhaus, Ava Coutu and Gillian Price.
Gelhaus ran the anchor leg for the Centaurs in the 4x200 relay, which also featured Coutu, Price and Aochen Li, and also placed fourth.
Unfortunately for Gelhaus, that effort may have cost her individually. She finished fourth in the 600 meter in 1:48.88 which was 2 ½ seconds above her seed time.
Aochen (Daisy) Li reached a goal as she extended her personal season.
She qualified for the Class L competition by finishing fourth in the 55-meter hurdles in 10.16 seconds, two-tenths of a second better than her seed time.
“Daisy is really coming out of her shell, learning to be aggressive in her approach to the hurdles and not let fear get the best of her. She is really turning in to a competitor, who gets fired up at the line, and goes for it,” Welch said.
Aria Gianfrido placed sixth in the 600-meter while Iris Bazinet was sixth in both the 1,000 and 1,600- meter races.
Theriaque (high jump), Gelhaus (600m), Li (hurdles) and the 4x200 team qualified for the Class L competition.
Boys’ results
The boys’ team did not score as well as the girls, getting only 10 points in the championship competition.
The best individual performance belonged to sophomore Ethan Aspiras who was fifth in the 3,200-meter.
There were a host of sixth-place performances.
Danylo Ntamwemizi finished in that spot in the shotput with a throw of 38-feet, 10-inches; Kenneth Birlin placed sixth in the 1,000-meter with his best performance of the season and Lucas Couture was sixth in the pole vault and also qualified for the Class M state championship on Saturday morning at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven in the 55-meter hurdles.
The 4x200 team of Trey Ayotte, Dylan Ponkala, Jacob Boynton and Spencer Collins placed fourth overall while the 4x800 relay squad of Aspiras, Aidan Lisee, Hans Rynhart and Jackson Dias was fifth. In addition to Couture (hurdles), Ntamwemizi (shotput), Birlin (the 1,600-meter in addition to the 1,000) and the 4x200 team have all qualified for state competition.
Girls’ Ice Hockey
The Woodstock Academy girls’ ice hockey team played well against the Cranston (R.I.) Thunderbirds Feb. 3, but fell just short at the Jahn Ice Rink at Pomfret School, 2-1.
Eliza Dutson, who was named the Eastern Connecticut Conference Athlete of the Week the week before, scored the only goal for the Centaurs (3-8). That tally was assisted by both Bryn Miller and Sydney Haskins.
The Centaurs went on the road to the Northford Ice Rink Feb. 2 and lost to Daniel Hand of Madison, 10-3. Dutson, who has five goals this season, Chelsea Willis and Maria Santucci scored for the Centaurs. Emma Ciquera (seven points this year) had two assists while Willis, Ellie Jellison, Ashleigh Angle and Hannah Clark all added helpers.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director, The Woodstock Academy
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Wed. Feb. 6
Entrepreneurship Workshop
POMFRET ---- The Pomfret Public Library will present “READY: Basics of Business Startup - what you need to consider in the early stages of business development” at 2 p.m. at the library. It’s sponsored by U.S. Small Business Administration and Pomfret Public Library. Register at: pomfretlibrary.org.
Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “Trail Wood Reflections: Writer & Artist In-Residence Exhibit” through Feb. 24. Free. 860-928-4948.
New Year
DANIELSON --- Quinebaug Valley Community College will celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig, at 12:30 p.m. in the Dr. Robert E. Miller Auditorium.
Art Opening
DANIELSON --- Quinebaug Valley Community College will present the opening of the Ann C. Rosebrooks Retrospective at 5:30 at the SPIROL Art Gallery.
Fri. Feb. 8
Textile Exhibit
WILLIMANTIC --- The remarkable life of Sidonia Perlstein, Holocaust survivor and clothing designer, will be on display Feb. 8 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.
‘Noises Off’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse on Front Street will present “Noises Off” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 and 9 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 10. $20 for adults; $16 for seniors and students. 860-28-7887.
Sat. Feb. 9
Fire & Ice
PUTNAM --- The 9th annual Fire & Ice will take place from noon to 9 p.m. around downtown Putnam.
‘Noises Off’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse on Front Street will present “Noises Off” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 10. $20 for adults; $16 for seniors and students. 860-28-7887.
Potato Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- There will be a baked potato buffet will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in the downstairs hall of St. Mary’s Church. $5. Eat in or take out. Benefits Boy Scout Troop 21. 860-928-7241.
Sun. Feb. 10
‘Noises Off’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse on Front Street will present “Noises Off” at 2 p.m. Feb. 10. $20 for adults; $16 for seniors and students. 860-28-7887.
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “How to Use Your Digital Camera – Photography Class with Fred Bird” from 2 to 5 p.m. Free to CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Mon. Feb. 11
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “How to Use Your Digital Camera – Photography Class with Fred Bird” from 6 to 9 p.m. Free to CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
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.
Wed. Feb. 13
Entrepreneurship Workshop
POMFRET --- The Pomfret public Library will present “SET: Essentials of becoming credit-ready -where to get money for your business, the five C’s of Credit, and business loans” at 2 p.m. at the library. Sponsored by U.S. Small Business Administration and Pomfret Public Library. Register at: pomfretlibrary.org.
Fri. Feb. 15
Sock Drive
PUTNAM --- The Curt D. Heath Memorial Sock Drive will be held from 6 to 9 a.m. at WINY Radio Station. Benefits the State of Connecticut Foster Care.
Sat. Feb. 16
Comedy Fund-raiser
CENTRAL VILLAGE --- The Ellis Tech Class of 2019 Project Safe Grad will present a Comedy Night at The Music Lady Café on Green Hollow Road. Doors open at 7; show at 8. $20. Drawings, too. 860-412-7538.
Snowshoe Hike
KILLINGLY --- The Last Green Valley Member Program will conduct a Snowshoe Hike from 10 a.m. to noon at Ross Pond State Park, Ross Road. If there is not enough snow for snowshoes, we’ll hike anyway. Conditions will determine whether the hike includes additional trail. We’ll also look for and identify animal tracks along the way. Wear appropriate clothing for winter hiking conditions, bring your own snowshoes and bring water and snacks or a lunch. This snowshoe hike is for TLGV Members and their guests. For info and to RSVP: 860-774-3300. Inclement weather cancels.
Camper Game Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp will hold a “Beat the Winter Blues” camper game day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for boys and girls 6-12. For more info call: 860-974-3379.
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “Owl Walk” at 5:30 p.m. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. Cancels if bad weather. 860-928-4948.
Sun. Feb. 17
Camp Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold an open house from 2 to 4 p.m.
Tues. Feb. 19
Readings
DANIELSON --- Quinebaug Valley Community College will present “Waiting for Yoko Ono: The Connecticut Student Poets 2019” at 6:30 at the SPIROL Art Gallery.
Wed. Feb. 20
Entrepreneurship Workshop
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Public Library will present “GO: Find small business support and educational resources, including SBA District Office, SCORE, SBDC, Center for Women & Enterprise, and Veteran’s Centers” at 2 p.m. at the library. Sponsored by U.S. Small Business Administration and Pomfret Public Library. Register at: pomfretlibrary.org.
Thur. Feb. 21
‘Chicago’
POMFRET --- The Pomfret School Theater will present “Chicago” at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 and Feb. 22 in the Hard Auditorium. Free. Open to the public.
Climate Panel
UNION --- The Yale Quiet Corner Initiative will present a panel on the science of climate change at the Union Town Hall. It starts at 6:30 with light refreshments, followed by a talk from each speaker --- three faculty members at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Please RSVP to
Fri. Feb. 22
‘The Last Romance’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Last Romance” through March 3. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.
Mon. Feb. 23
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present Nature Tracking Hike from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Willington. $50 for CAS members; $60 nonmembers. Register at: 860-928-4948.
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Pomfret looks
at marketing
POMFRET — Pomfret’s Economic Planning and Development Commission is beginning a four-month journey to create a plan to help Pomfret grow. The commission will be looking to members of the community to take part and share ideas.
The commission began a branding-then-marketing study with an initial meeting with John Filchak, executive director of the Northeast CT Council of Governments.
Filchak discussed the purpose of a branding study and the process the townspeople will be using to develop Pomfret’s brand. After that the town would create a marketing plan to be used to help Pomfret grow through the coming years.
The entire process should take about four months with both scheduled meetings and online surveys for members of the Pomfret community. This will allow for the greatest cross section of opinions to create the best possible plan for the town.
For more information please refer to the town’s website: pomfretct.gov or by contacting Charlie Tracy at:
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