Woodstock Academy girls’ basketball coach Will Fleeton remains very happy with his team’s defensive performance.
The offense?
That’s another question.
“We missed a ton of easy shots. We couldn’t hit the side of a barn,” Fleeton said after his Centaurs lost to Norwich Free Academy, 38-17, in their only game of the week Jan. 4. “The easy excuse is to say that the time off through the break came back to bite us, but I think that players should be able to work their way through that. I don’t think that was an issue.”
The Centaurs hung with the Wildcats in the first quarter when almost 30 percent of the points in the game were scored.
The Wildcats (3-5, 1-0 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I) led the Centaurs only 9-7 after the first quarter but the second was another story.
Woodstock Academy scored only two points in both the second and third quarters.
What can a coach do when the offense is struggling like that?
“Not much,” Fleeton admitted. “I think there were stretches in the game where we were getting good shots, getting the shots we wanted, ran the offense to get them, and we executed well. We just didn’t finish.”
The Centaurs (4-2, 0-1) continue to play great defense.
Holding the Wildcats to 38 points represents a good defensive effort, equal to that they put together against Bacon Academy, but in both cases, Woodstock Academy just couldn’t put the ball in the hoop.
The Centaurs averaged only 20 points in those two losses.
“It’s been a concern,” Fleeton said, “but it’s been a concern not only, like (in the NFA game), where there was a lid on the basket. We put so much emphasis on the defense that it takes a little away from the offense. We try to compensate for that by generating offense through the defense. I don’t want to say (the lack of offense) is expected, but can it happen? Sure.”
Bella Graziano of NFA was the only player in double figures with 14 points including a pair of 3-pointers for the Wildcats. Maddy Perrino added eight points.
Heather Converse led the Centaurs with seven points. Katie Papp and Marina Monrabel (4 points each) and Aislin Tracey (2 points) were the only others who scored.
“I think we just keep doing what we’re doing, keep putting up the shots. They seemed to go in the night before,” Fleeton said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

.

PUTNAM — Charles “Chuck” Pride has been the biggest surprise for the Putnam Science Academy Mustangs this season. The 6-foot, 4-inch guard out of Syracuse, N.Y., has earned his playing time coming off the bench for Head Coach Tom Espinosa as the Mustangs are ranked #1 in the country at 19-0 and have won 43 straight games.
“Charles is the best rebounding guard in our program’s history” Espinosa said after Pride grabbed 12 rebounds, 10 offensive in a win a few weeks back for PSA. “He has a knack for the basketball and somehow, someway the ball just finds him.”
Pride, on a team with 7-0 Russel Tchewa, 7-1 Mohamed Sylla, 6-9 Abou Ousmane and 6-8 Kareem Reid leads the Mustangs with 8.0 rebounds per game. The Charles Pride hype train started back in November in an early season tilt with Montverde Academy, a Prep team ranked in the top 10 at the time of the National Prep Showcase. PSA went on to win that game 78-68 with a large part due to the play of Pride, who finished with 12 points a game-high 13 rebounds, nine coming on the offensive end leading to big second chance opportunities.
Since November, Pride continued to demonstrate his effort and work ethic that sets him apart from others leading the Mustangs in rebounding and making all the hustle plays that caught the eye of Bryant University. Bryant, who were in attendance during Putnam Science Academy’s open gym, had seen Charles play earlier in the season but once they got a second and third look at the Basketbull Hoopfest, they knew Pride was the guy.
Charles Pride announced his commitment to Bryant Jan. 4 on Twitter and will play for the Bulldogs next season.
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

.

The Woodstock Academy girls’ ice hockey team is going to have to get used to traveling over the state lines to Rhode Island this season.
The Centaurs have recently picked up several games with their Ocean State neighbors and found out so far that the competition can be difficult.
The Centaurs lost to Warwick, R.I., 5-2, at Thayer Arena in Rhode Island Jan. 4 and then saw their record slip to 1-3 with a 6-0 loss to the Connecticut Northern Lights Jan. 6 at the Jahn Ice Rink at Pomfret School.
“We’ve set up a couple of games with Rhode Island and Burrillville (whom the Centaurs have scrimmaged), Warwick and Cranston are all in the middle of the standings in Rhode Island. Warwick was a good team and we played pretty well against them,” said Woodstock Academy co-head coach Sean Farrell.
The Centaurs did have some adversity to overcome as a couple of players had to sit out the first period for missing a practice earlier in the week.
The Centaurs gave the game puck to Sydney Haskins after the game as she scored both of their goals.
The freshman got her first career goal off assists from Eliza Dutson and Ashleigh Angle in the second period.
She scored her second career goal also in the second period off assists from Dutson and Ellie Jellison.
“She was excited to get her first two goals. She almost had a third one which would have tied the game in the third period. She has a lot of potential and you can see that in her. She just has to put the work in to see that to fruition,” Farrell said.
Hannah Clark, a freshman, and Brynn Miller, an eighth-grader, both performed well in the game, according to Farrell.
Farrell said he feels that the Centaurs fit in against the Rhode Island folks.
“It was a very even game, easily could have gone either way and if we have our full team for three periods, I think it would make a difference,” Farrell said.
The Northern Lights had some pretty experienced skaters on their side, according to co-head coach Jeff Boshka, and handed the Centaurs the loss.
Farrell was happy with the play of the Centaurs third line.
Emma Strandson, Regan Stuyniski and Kileigh Gagnon did not allow a goal to the Northern Lights during their shifts.
Marie Gravier was solid in goal in the loss, stopping 35 of the 41 Northern Lights shots. The Centaurs had only 24 shots of their own, but won the face off battle, 18-16.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

.