By Ron P. Coderre

High school and prep school senior boys and girls basketball players will have their final opportunity to shine in front of local fans March 25 in the “Ray Brousseau” Putnam Rotary Club All Star Basketball Shoot-Out.  The games are scheduled for the Putnam High School gymnasium.  The women’s contest will tipoff at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s game.

Admission for the evening is $3 for adults and $1 for students and senior citizens.  Complimentary refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Putnam Rotary Club.

The “Ray Brousseau” all-star game has been organized by the Putnam Rotary Club for more than two decades.  The contest, which features players from 13 local schools, honors the memory of. Brousseau who was a Putnam Rotarian for more than six decades.  A local businessman, who owned the Church Clothing Co. in Putnam, he was a supporter of youth and high school sports through his lifetime.  

Mr. Brousseau was proud of his perfect attendance record in Rotary, which spanned 41 consecutive years.  He lived the motto of Rotary, which is “Service Above Self.”  He was the Putnam Rotary Club president in 1941 and was honored for his service with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award.

“This evening gives our Rotary Club an opportunity to pause and remember Mr. Brousseau for all he did in our community and for his love of sports.  It’s also our way of honoring local high school and prep school girls and boys for their accomplishments on the hardwood,” said Willie Bousquet, organizer of the contest.

Male and female players representing Plainfield, Killingly, Ellis Tech, Griswold, Putnam, Tourtellotte, Woodstock, Marianapolis, Hyde-Woodstock, Pomfret School, Parish Hill, Windham Tech and Putnam Science Academy have been invited to attend.  Expected to be on hand are such luminaries as Kaevon Safford, Mike Jezierski, Ryan Pambuku, Cynthia Briere, Makenzie Kaylor, John McGinn, Trent Peters, Mike Bourgeois, Nick Hewitt, Liz Rondeau, Jill Bodreau, Jordan Butler, Anthony Durham, Kara Thibodeau,  Kenny Grant, Jalen Terry and many others.

The games are sponsored by WINY Radio, Benpe Sales and Consulting, The Byrnes Agency, Putnam Bank, The Citizens National Bank and Archambault Insurance Associates.  

“We’re encouraging fellow students, parents, friends and basketball lovers to come out for the game.  The evening promises to provide some good basketball and plenty of entertainment,” said Bousquet.

Working with Bousquet on the organizing committee are Rotarians Henry Doughty,  Jay Wade, Rachael Johnston, Paul Pikora, Doug Valentine, Richard Naumann, Jay Byrnes and Doug Porter.