By Ron P. Coderre

Tourtellotte’s Kaevon Safford, who scored his 1000th high school career point against Windham, and Plainfield’s Ryan Pambuku, who is on the verge of scoring his 1000th high school career point, continue as the area’s scoring leaders, waging a torrid battle for the top spot. 

This week it’s Safford’s turn to be on the top as he’s averaging 23.1 points per contest, which is .9 ahead of Pambuku who stands at 22.2.  Safford’s Tigers went one-and-one on the week, while Pambuku’s Panthers won their only game of the week to up their winning streak to four games.  Both teams have identical 9-8 records.

Woodstock continued its fine play winning its only contest, while Putnam, Killingly and Ellis Tech all suffered a loss in their only contests of the snow-covered week.

In the preps, Putnam Science Academy continues as the dominant team, while Marianapolis I suffered two losses in what appears to be a stock market, up-and-down season for the Golden Knights.  Pomfret School, Marianapolis II and Hyde-Woodstock all picked up at least one victory.

Woodstock Playing Well Down the Stretch

On its way to the Class L Championship last season one of the flaws on Woodstock’s record was a narrow defeat at the hands of Bacon Academy in what was an emotional win for the Bacon boys.  Last week the Centaurs avenged that loss in their only contest beating the Bobcats 62-48.

A strong defensive effort by coach Greg Smith’s charges, in which they limited the Bobcats to 16 first-half points,  set the tone for the win.  Woodstock went off at intermission ahead 31-16 and finished the game with a solid 21-point final quarter.  The Centaurs were led by three players in double digits, paced by Trent Peters and Chris Lowry with 17 apiece, and Adam Converse with 14.  The win raises the Centaurs record to 14-3 and 7-2 in the ECC Large Division.

Plainfield and Killingly put on a great show for the fans as the Panthers won on a 19-foot Ryan Pambuku three-pointer with under 10 seconds remaining.  The shot gave the Panthers the 54-53 victory.  

Pambuku and Killingly’s Nick Hewitt waged a prolific scoring battle as both players tallied 30 points.  James Saritelli added a dozen for the 6-10 and 2-7 ECC Medium Redmen.  Plainfield which has gone from 5-8 to 9-8 in two weeks is 6-3 in the ECC Medium.

Safford had a 31-point effort against Windham when he recorded his 1000th career point, but his performance was spoiled when the Whippets Devon Roberts hit a three-pointer from beyond half court to hand the Tigers a disappointing 67-65 loss.  Shawn Houle was the only other Tourtellotte player in double figures with 14 markers.

The Tigers bounced back from the loss with a satisfying 80-60 victory over the Lyman Bulldogs.  Safford, with 29 points, was once again the leading Tiger point producer, while Mike Jezierski, with five from beyond the arc, added 15 points and Nate Jewell (15) and Walt Rocca (10) were also in double figures for 9-8 Tourtellotte.

Putnam lost an overtime heart breaker to Norwich Tech 49-48 on the road.  Tyler Genest (14) and Steve Dakai (11) were the 3-12 overall and 1-7 CSC East Clippers’ top scorers.  Ellis Tech dropped its 16th in a row when it was beaten 64-25 by University Prep.    

Putnam Science Academy Rolling Along

Putnam Science Academy racing down the home stretch and hopeful for a berth in the National Prep School Tournament in March posted four wins this week against solid opponents upping their record to 25-3.  The Scientists did incur a blemish on their record as they lost to Brewster Academy in a showdown of No. 1 and No.2 in the prep nation.  

The Mustangs opened the week by beating a good South Kent School 99-91in a high scoring affair.  Five Mustangs were in double figures led by Anthony “Bull” Durham with 31 points.  Joining the Rider University bound Durham in double figures were Dalique Mingo (10), Kyle Menard (17), Jordan “Man Mountain” Butler (19) and Jalen Terry (11).

The Scientists avenged one of their earlier losses by beating Notre Dame Prep of Fitchburg, Mass., 76-72 at the Brewster Academy Showcase.  PSA led 38-26 at intermission and survived a second half ND surge, in which they were outscored 46-38, to post the win.  Once again it was a balanced scoring attack with six players in double figures that won the game for the Mustangs.  Danny “Up Tempo” Upchurch with 19 points was the leading scorer followed by Durham with 14 points, Mingo (11) and the trio of Chaise Daniels, Menard and Terry with 10 points each.

Coach Tom Espinosa’s team also rolled past an outmanned Pomfret School 76-55, jumping out to a 46-27 halftime advantage and never looking back.  Upchurch led the way with 16 markers followed by Durham (13), Menard (10) and Butler who had 11 points.

Pomfret, which was without the services of one of its top players Isaiah Henderson, was led by Jeff Iyalekhue and Barak Swarttz , each with a dozen points and Cam Winston with 10.  Earlier in the week the 8-9 Golden Griffins beat Westminster School 65-53 behind Winston’s 28 points and Iyalekhue’s 19.

The details are skimpy coming out of the finals of the Brewster Academy Showcase but the verdict went against Putnam Science Academy as it was dropped by the hosts 63-50.  According to reports, the game was terminated with about eight minutes to play because of an altercation.  (PTC Sports will have more details on the situation in next week’s paper.)  Durham with 14 points and Upchurch with 10 points were the only two double-figure scorers in the contest for the Mustangs.

Following Saturday evening’s fiasco, the team moved north to Bridgton, Maine, for a Sunday matinee encounter, which they captured 83-57.  Back on solid footing and once again in the win column, the Scientists had four players in double digits in the victory.  Topping the scoring parade were Upchurch and Durham with 17 points apiece, followed by Butler with 13 and Calveti Nyabingi with 11 markers. 

Marianapolis I dropped to 10-10 on the years as it was beaten by St. Andrew’s twice 58-48 and 51-47.  Chiamaka Browne was the lone Golden Knight in double figures with 10 points in the first contest, while Bobby Ahearn with 14 points led the scoring in the second contest.

MPS II posted a 48-37 win over the Putnam Science Academy II unit as Paul Doherty (17) and Matt Sabacinski (13) were the leading scorers for the 11-9 Golden Knights.  Hyde-Woodstock evened its record at 9-9 with a 64-54 win over the Dexter School.  Damon Gomes (24), Dexter Thompson (18) and E.J. Jordine (16) were all in double figures for the winning Wolfpack. 

      Scoring Leaders: Kaevon Safford – Tourtellotte – 23.1; Ryan Pambuku – Plainfield - 22.2; Kenny Grant – Hyde-Woodstock – 19.0; Nick Hewitt – Killingly – 17.3; Anthony Durham – Putnam Science Academy – 16.4.

Three-point Leaders: Mike Jezierski – Tourtellotte – 51; Danny Upchurch – Putnam Science Academy – 47; Kyle Menard – Putnam Science Academy – 40; Jalen Terry – Putnam Science Academy – 36.

RPC’s Super Standings: Putnam Science Academy – 25-3; Woodstock Academy – 14-3; Marianapolis II – 11-9; Marianapolis I – 10-10; Tourtellotte – 9-8; Plainfield – 9-8; Hyde-Woodstock – 9-9; Pomfret School – 8-9; Killingly – 6-10; Putnam – 3-12; Ellis Tech – 0-16.

 

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