By Shawn Bates
The Putnam High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams are ready to roll.
The Lady Clippers
Coach: Mandi Hogan 6yr
Asst. Ashley Espinosa 3yr
Key Returnees:  Jr. Kayleigh Lyons and Jr. Molly Mckeon
Additional returnees: Sr.  Lauren Blackmar, Sr. Morgan Blackmar, So. Abby St. Martin , Jr. Jillian Gray, So Laylah Charvez , Jr. Haley Cutler , Jr. Ellie Morissette and So. Emma Braithwaite.
Last year’s record: 17-5 with a second round CIAC Tourney loss to Lyman by 3 points.
Entering her sixth year as head coach of the Lady Clippers Mandi Hogan brings back a well-disciplined squad with her assistant coach Ashley Espinosa by her side. Fourteen girls came out for the team this year with only losing two starters from last year. The core group returns with the 11th grade tandem of Kayleigh Lyons and Molly Mckeon to lead the Clippers.
Last year the school played all sports Independent so this year Hogan‘s goals are simple 1) Win the Clipper Classic and 2) compete in the ECC and CIAC tournament’s. With the schedule that Hogan put together last year to scale the competition in the ECC those teams being Wheeler, Tourtellotte, Plainfield, Griswold Killingly and St. Bernard. Winning all but two games in that class last year gave Hogan an advantage to gauge the teams they will face this year.
And that adds a grudge match against Lyman. They handed the Ladies their exit out of the second round of the State tournament last year by a 3-point thriller. Hogan Stated she‘s happy to be back home in the ECC to face some talented teams this year.
The Ladies have been at it since Nov. 26 and have already scrimmaged three teams and won all the quarters in a round robin against Bartlett ,Bay Path Tech and Tourtellotte.
When asked want she wanted to see out of the girls and why she coaches she stated she’s been at it for 13 years and loves it all she wants for her players is to compete and have them succeed on and off the court in school and in life.
The Clippers:
Coach: Shawn Deary 10th year
Assistant coaches:  JV Head coach Dennis Deary 10th season and freshman Head Coach Dino Porcic
Last season record: 10-10
Key returnees: Sr. Sebastian Ramos, Sr. Tyion Harris, Jr. Ezavier Key, So. Colby Livingston, Sr. Hunter Touchette, Jr. Anthony Navedo ,Sr. Michael Dicolella, Sr. Kobie Bates , So. Jordan Marks.
Top newcomers: Jr. Justin St. Martin, So. Jack Lomax, So. John Carita and Fr. Karson Bates
Outlook: The Clippers only graduated 4 last year (Holloman, Bararylski, Ciquera and Davagian) two starters and two role players so Deary still has the speed and inside threat of Tyion Harris and the Point guard of the team Sebastian Ramos.
Last year’s freshman guard Colby Livingston is moving into the power forward position due to his height gained in the off season.
Navedo and Key are the wild cards both can shoot the three and aren’t afraid to go inside to score.
The bench is what coach Deary is most excited about: “I can go 7 deep on the bench this year and we`re heavy on the guard side” Not a terrible problem to have.  Dicolella will play a major role with his rebounding ability off the bench.
Marks and Kobie Bates can hit from deep if needed and Hunter Touchette is the perfect fit as a reserve point guard to give Ramos a rest.
They‘ve played 2 scrimmages so far one against Stafford which Harris went coast to coast several times and then against Woodstock threw down a nice dunk to get the home crowd a look at what’s to come this year.
When asked about his center going to coast to coast Deary said, “I love it you don’t see it often but when you do the crowd will go nuts!”
When asked about going back to the ECC Deary said. “I’m more than happy it’s where we belong playing against the good eastern competition.”
His goals to win the Classic this year which has been changed this year they will start off against Tourtellotte and the Parish Hill will play and old CSC foe Windham Tech on Dec. 21 and the Championship will be on the 22nd.
Then of course to make the ECC and CIAC tournament’s.
Expect that hard nose Clipper defense man to man and in your face.

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