Girls’ Roundup:

Milestone wins, losses

in up,down

hoops week

By Ron P. Coderre

There were a number of significant wins and losses last week in girls’ high school and prep school hoop action.  Some little victories took place that bode well for the future for some schools that are struggling this year and some losses occurred that are hopefully only a hiccup for teams that are doing well this season.

Pomfret School, which was riding a nine-game win streak following a big victory over Worcester Academy, was dropped by Rivers School, snapping the win skein.  In another similar situation, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, sporting the best local schoolgirl record in the area at 10-3, was felled by Windham following a big win over Parish Hill.

On the other side of the ledger, Woodstock Academy, looking for wins wherever they can find them, did pick up its second victory of the season when the Acads beat Griswold in what was a major milestone for coach Willie Bousquet’s ladies.   

Light Week in Prep Action

The Pomfret School Golden Griffins, the hottest prep team in the area started the week by raising its record to 10-2 with a huge win over perennial power Worcester Academy.  Trailing by three points, 31-28 at halftime Pomfret put together a big defensive second-half effort holding the visitors to 11 points and walked off with a convincing 56-42 victory.

Juliette Lawless (15 points) and Alyzae Davis (17), part of Pomfret’s offensive armada, were the key operatives in the win.  Pomfret then allowed a potential victory slip through its fingers when the Griffs lost a 26-21 halftime advantage by scoring only 16 points after intermission and falling 53-42 to Rivers Schools.  Lawless (17) and Davis (13) were the only players to reach double digits for Pomfret.

Marianapolis, led by Madison Springfield’s double-double (12 points – 12 rebounds) and Caroline Soucy’s 15-point and nine-rebound effort, raised its record to 9-3 with a 57-49 victory over Buckingham, Browne and Nichols.

Hyde-Woodstock was dropped by St. Andrew’s 42-17. Janicha Diaz had 14 points for the 3-6 Wolfpack.

'Bousqueteers' Pick up Second Win

Woodstock Academy, under first year coach Willie Bousquet, has been going through a tough transition as the Centaurs struggle to find victories.  The team morale took a shot of adrenalin this week when it posted a surprisingly strong 36-29 win over Griswold at home.

A big third quarter by the hosts in which they outscored the Lady Wolverines 12-3 was the key to the win.  The Centaurs were paced by Galina Gruder with 12 points and Taylor Littell with 11 markers.  Woodstock then fell at the hands of Montville 54-35 as the offense had a difficult time getting started against the visiting Indians.  Littell and Gruder with 10 points apiece were the leading scorers for the 2-12 “Bousqueteers.”

Tourtellotte, which boasts an impressive 10-3 log, posted a big 39-18 win over Constitution State Conference foe Parish Hill.  The winners featured a balanced scoring attack with four players, Niclole Dion, Lizz Coty, Jess Dodd and Abby Poirier all posting eight points.  The Windham Whippets then arrived in Thompson and ran amok over the host Lady Tigers 52-38.

Putnam raised its record to 4-7 overall and 2-1 in the CSC East with a convincing 46-35 win over visiting Holy Family Academy.  Cynthia Briere enjoyed her best offensive showing of the season posting a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in leading the Lady Clippers to victory.  In a CSC matchup, Putnam lost to Goodwin Tech 32-21 in a game played in Manchester.  

Plainfield’s record dipped below .500 when the Lady Panthers were dropped by a good Bacon Academy team 39-17.  They now stand at 6-7 overall.  Killingly fell to 1-11 when it lost to Norwich Free Academy 61-26.  Ellis Tech suffering through a winless season lost its only contest of the week 68-16 at the hands of Capital Prep.  The Lady Techsters are 0-10 and 0-4 in the CSC East.

Scoring Leaders: Meagan Bianchi – Killingly – 15.9; Alyzae Davis – Pomfret School – 15.3; Janicha Diaz – Hyde-Woodstock – 15.2; Mary Redmond – Pomfret School – 15.0

Three-point Leaders: Mary Redmond – Pomfret School – 24; Adrienne Lorange – Plainfield – 19