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By Ron Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along to Bernie Gilbert. The man behind the success of the Putnam Lions Club Volleyball Challenge celebrates another candle on the cake on Aug. 11. Enjoy your day, Bernie.
Remember Dayshon “Scoochie’ Smith, the former Putnam Science Academy standout? For two years he made headlines as the first player at PSA to score 1000 points. In September he’ll be a freshman at the University of Dayton and a member of coach Archie Miller’s Flyers basketball team.
Despite the fact that Smith hasn’t officially set a sneaker on the Dayton Arena basketball hardwood, he continues to make the news. The University recently announced that the 6-foot, two-inch silky smooth guard is ranked in the top 125 recruits nationally. The Bronx native is ranked 106 by Rivals. ESPN also ranks Smith as the fifth best player out of the state of New York for the class of 2013.
After the prep school season officially ended, Smith was invited to play in the Jordan Brand Regional All Star game, which was held at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. He impressed the thousands of fans and scouts on hand by recording a double-double of 11 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in his team’s 114-102 loss. He was the first UD player since 2013 to be accorded the honor of being selected for the game.
Smith, named the No. 1 recruit out of the state of Connecticut for 2013 by New England Recruiting Report, averaged 17.2 points and 6.1 assists as a junior at Putnam Science Academy. Last year his numbers were 18.8 points, 7.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game while leading the Mustangs to a 22-8 record and the Northeast Prep Championship where he was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.
The University of Dayton, which counts former National Basketball Association star John Paxson and Norwich Free Academy grad Marc Jones among its basketball alumni, plays in the competitive Atlantic-10 Conference.
Connecticut Open A Tough
Test of Golf Skills…
The three-day Connecticut Open played at Torrington Country Club proved to be a challenge for the amateurs and professionals who qualified for the event that was held July 29, 30 and 31. Among the entries was Thompson resident and Quinnatisset Country Club member Matt Smith.
The opening round of the event saw Smith on fire, recording a three under par 69, putting him two strokes off the lead of 67 posted by eventual champion Jeff Curl and Eric Steger. On day two Smith ran into difficulty and posted a plus six, 78 but still managed to move on to the third and final round where he recorded a one over par 73. For the tournament he finished at 4-over 220, which tied him for 27th place.
Update on Academy Hoopsters…
Woodstock Academy Class L State Championship basketball coach Greg Smith reports that three of his former players who graduated in June will be moving on to the college level in the fall. Ian Converse, who was the mainstay of the Centaurs run to the title, is headed to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he will play for the NCAA Division III Engineers. The 6-5 Converse should fit nicely into the WPI basketball scene.
Burly Sullivan Gardner, who proved to be a stalwart off the boards throughout the 2012-2013-campaign, is headed to Western Connecticut State University. Gardner is a rugged rebounder who scores off the carom, something that Division III schools like WCSU feel is important to its success.
The third member of the trio is long range bomber Tristan Welch who is headed to the University of Maine in Orono on an academic scholarship. He’s been in touch with the coaching staff in Maine and will attempt to make the Black Bear team as a walk-on.
Good Job, Ump…
Anyone who umpires Little League doesn’t do it to get rich. Those men (and women) who volunteer their time without pay do it for the love of the game and as a service to the youngsters who play the game.
An RPC ‘tip of the sports fedora” is sent along to Woodstock resident Kevin Rothwell who this summer has officiated 51 games and counting. The Tourtellotte Memorial High School graduate says that he started umpiring when he was at a game and there was no one available to call the balls and strikes. One thing led to another and now it’s one of his annual volunteer activities. His prowess as an arbiter has spread, as Rothwell has been working all star games throughout Eastern Connecticut.
Get Well Wishes…
A recent visitor to the hospital was Leonel “Lee” Konicki, Sr. of Putnam, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery. Word has it that the surgery was successful and rehab is progressing ahead of schedule. RPC sends along get well wishes and hopes to see Konicki back walking Sports Ave. soon. Konicki Sr. is the father of Putnam Police Department Deputy Chief Lee Konicki.
From The Annals of Putnam Sports History…
June 11, 1915: Putnam High School defeated Bartlett High School of Webster 2-0. Arthur Blackmore pitched Putnam’s first no-hit, no-run game. (Information provided by Willie Zamagni)
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Challenges make life interesting, however, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” Mark Twain