Boys' Roundup:

Team chemistry 

important as

PSA surges

By Ron P. Coderre

In what has to be one of the greatest six-game stretches of basketball in the history of Putnam, the Putnam Science Academy Mustangs demonstrated why they are ranked as one of the top prep hoop programs in the country.  Following this six-game run they definitely belong in the Top Ten in the nation.

The fabulous six-game stretch began on Friday, January 10 and is still going strong.  During that period, the Scientists “special seven” coached by Tom Espinosa, have taken on and defeated some of the best schools in the country.  

Believe Prep of South Carolina was the first victim.  Ranked #12 in the nation, Believe fell hard at the feet of the Mustangs who were #13 in the country at the time.  In a surprise victory PSA edged the #1 team in the nation, Northfield- Mt. Hermon in a contest played in Boston.  In a nip-and-tuck game they then added Marianapolis Prep of Thompson to the list.

The next notch in the belt came when they bested perennial national power St. Thomas More ranked #7 on the road in Oakdale. And on Friday, January 17 in the tiny PSA bandbox gym they beat Lee Academy of Maine.  On Sunday, in a noon matinee they edged the visitors from Maine in an exciting contest that went down to the final second of play before the outcome was in hand.

Espinosa has done a great job of bringing not only talented players to the Maple St. campus but also in building an academic and hoop culture that only a mad scientist could concoct.  The team features three big men, 6-foot, 8-inch Chaise Daniels and a pair of 6-7 players, rebounding bulwark Jordan Butler and Jalen “The Alaskan Husky” Terry.

Point guard Danny “Up tempo” Upchurch drives the offense.  A threesome of versatile players either starts or comes off the bench and provides spark on offense and defense.  Anthony “Bull” Durham is a hot shooting 6-4 igniter who can score anywhere on the court.  Another 6-4 forward is rugged Kyle Menard who almost mirrors the play of Durham.  Dalique Mingo a 6-2 New York product rounds out the trio.

Berkan Tuylu, a 6-2 Turkish player from Istanbul, and Calveti Nyabingi from Elmont, N. Y., can fill in nicely whenever needed or should the “special seven” get into foul trouble.

The Mustangs, thanks to their fine play, may now be wearing a target on their backs.  The schedule doesn’t get any easier with at least 17 games remaining on the docket.  The preseason goal of playing in the National Tournament may be in sight but will only be achieved with a sustained intense effort from everyone on the team.   

The remainder of the preps also enjoyed a full week of action.

Woodstock Academy continued its winning ways picking up two victories while the remainder of the high schools toiled through an up and down week.

Five in a Row and Counting

After disposing of Believe Prep at home a happy but weary band of PSA Mustangs traveled to Boston for its biggest test of the season, a game against the top ranked team in the country, Northfield – Mt. Hermon in the Ballas TV Invitational.  Following a tight first half, where the Mustangs led 32-30 they outscored their opponent by five points in the final half to walk off with a satisfying 62-55 victory.  Dalique Mingo with 19 points and Chaise Daniels with 15 were the only double figure scorers in the upset, while Jordan Butler was big off the glass with 10 rebounds.

Playing in front of a packed house at Marianapolis the Mustangs staggered to a hard fought 59-54 victory over the Golden Knights.  Jalen Terry and Anthony Durham with 12 points apiece were the Scientists’ top scorers, while Danny Upchurch cashed in 11 markers.  Eric Long (13) and Eric Murdock Jr. (10) led the Golden Knights in the battle of the local titans.

The Scientists continued their surge through the best teams in the area when they outlasted St. Thomas More 94-90 in a high scoring affair.  A balanced scoring attack, which saw six players in double figures, was the key to the win.  Anthony Durham had 17 points and Mingo 15, while Butler and Menard each contributed 14 points.  Upchurch and Terry rounded out the scoring with 11 points each.

Next in line was Lee Academy and the Mustangs were up to the task punishing the visitors 99-63.  Again it was a balanced attack that paved the path to victory over the Mainiacs.  Durham had 17 and three players, Mingo, Daniels and Menard each had 16.  Butler (14) and Terry (12) were the other double digit scorers for the Mustangs.

In the Sunday return engagement it was a different affair.  Lee went into the locker room at intermission leading 38-34 but the Mustangs responded with a tremendous second half squeaking out an 80-78 victory.  Five players finished in double figures for the Scientist as Kyle Menard came off the bench to spark the offense with 15 points, four from three-point range.  

Point guard Upchurch also had four from beyond the arc to go with 10 assists and 17 points.  Others in double digits for the 15-2 Mustangs were Durham (13), Mingo (13) and Butler with 12.

Hyde School-Woodstock faced off against Pomfret School in a battle between two schools that are only five miles apart.  Pomfret won the contest 60-58 in a game that was as close as the proximity of the two schools.  A trio of Golden Griffins led the way to the win.  Isaiah Henderson had 19, while Cam Winston contributed 16 and Jeff Iyalekhue 15 for the 5-4 Griffs.  Kenny Grant (18), Dexter Thompson (12) and Fedja Djurisic (13) were Hyde’s top point producers.

Earlier in the week Hyde was dropped by St. Andrew’s 73-40 as Thompson had 21 and Grant 15 for the 6-6 Wolfpack.  Lee Academy, as part of its Northeastern Connecticut trip, after its loss to PSA, took revenge on the Wolfpack, beating the hosts 65-50, despite 23 points from Hyde’s Kenny Grant.  Prior to its loss to Lee, Hyde took the measure of Providence Country Day 64-55 behind Grant who once again had 23 points for the 7-7 Wolfpack.

The Marianapolis II unit (6-1) split a pair of contests, beating Putnam Science Academy JV 58-41 before losing to the Wheeler School 67-18 for its first defeat of the season.

Woodstock Steps Out of State

Woodstock Academy after picking up a pair of Eastern Connecticut Conference victories traveled out of state to Springfield to play in the prestigious Spalding Hall Hoop Classic at Springfield College.  Against Massachusetts Roger Putnam Vocational Technical School the Centaurs were easy prey, going down 77-45 as they were outrebounded by the Beavers 48-29.  The loss puts Woodstock at 9-2 on the season.

The Centaurs opened the week against an ECC Large Division foe by beating the Fitch Falcons 72-43 as Will Bourgeois poured in 22 points.  Trent Peters who added 18 points had four three-pointers, while Chris Lowry had 13 and Adam Converse 10.

The Acads then squeaked by Bacon Academy at home 46-45 as Lowry (14), John McGinn (11) and Bourgeois (10) provided the offense.

In a rematch between the teacher and the student, the student, Jim Crabtree and his Killingly Redmen once again beat coach Tony Falzarano and the Tourtellotte Tigers 54-47.  The trio of Nick Hewitt (15), Austin Taylor (17) and James Saritelli (12) paced the victors.  Kaevon Safford (20) and Shawn Houle (15) were high scorers for the Tigers.

Killingly enjoying a good week then rolled past Lyman 76-36 to lift its record to 6-3.  Hewitt and Saritelli with 16 points apiece were the top guns for the Redmen.  Tourtellotte meanwhile, bounced back beating Montville 74-55, as Safford (24) and Mike Jezierski (25), eight from beyond the arc, were the top guns.

Plainfield dropped to 4-5, losing a pair of heartbreakers in a 1-2 week.  The Panthers lost to Windham 65-53 and to Griswold 53-52 but did beat Wheeler 74-53.  Ryan Pambuku, who is two points shy of 1000 for his career, was Plainfield’s top scorer in all three games.  He posted 21 against Wheeler and 17 against Griswold. 

Putnam in its only contest took a devastating 58-56 loss at home against Windham Tech.  Steve Dakai with 18 was the Clippers top scorer followed by Jordan Tetreault and Tylor Genest each with 13 points.  Ellis Tech dropped to 0-8 overall and 0-3 in the CSC East Division after losing 57-29 to Norwich Tech.

Scoring Leaders: Ryan Pambuku – Plainfield - 23.3; Kaevon Safford – Tourtellotte – 20.9; Anthony Durham – Putnam Science Academy – 19.8; Chris Lowry – Woodstock – 17.0; Kenny Grant – Hyde-Woodstock – 16.6; Dexter Thompson – Hyde-Woodstock – 16.4.

Three-point Leaders: Mike Jezierski – Tourtellotte – 28; Jalen Terry – Putnam Science Academy – 22; Kyle Menard – Putnam Science Academy - 22.