Boys’ Wrap-up

Blizzard 

wreaks havoc 

on boys’  hoops

By Ron P. Coderre

Blizzard Colbie didn’t bring any good luck with it as Woodstock Academy was the only local boys’ high school team to pick a victory during the snow  “week from hell.”

The Centaurs avenged an earlier season defeat by beating Norwich Free Academy in the Rose City.  Tourtellotte, Ellis Tech, Plainfield and Putnam all were winless.  Fortunately for Killingly, they were idle.

The preps also had a light week as Putnam Science Academy had a pair of games postponed thanks to Blizzard Colbie but lost a heart breaker in its only contest.  Marianapolis V1 and V2 teams were in action as was Pomfret School.  Hyde-Woodstock lost its only game of the week.

Woodstock Academy Edging Toward .500 Mark

Woodstock Academy moved to within a game of .500 this week with two solid victories.  The Acads traveled to Norwich and got a modicum of revenge as they slipped by the host Norwich Free Academy Wildcats 48-43.  Earlier in the year the Centaurs, without the services of big man Adam Converse at the time, were edged by the Wildcats.

In the win over the Wildcats, the Centaurs jumped out in front 11-9 in the initial stanza and went to the locker room at intermission up 23-18.  Coach Greg Smith’s boys withstood a fourth period charge by NFA to come home with the satisfying victory.  Bryce Jarrett paced Woodstock’s ‘iron five’ with 17 points.  Oliver Simon contributed 10 points with three coming from three-point range, while Converse added 11 points.

The Centaurs crossed the border into the Ocean State for a game with Cranston – East, which the hard luck Acads lost at the buzzer 50-48.  Woodstock point guard Oliver Simon had tied the game at 48-48 with a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining on the clock.  The loss drops the Centaurs to 5-8 on the season and 2-3 in the ECC Large Division.

Putnam lost a Constitution State Conference – East heart breaker to Norwich Tech 53-51 on the road.  Matt Harmon with 16 points and freshman Dan Porcic with 15 were high scorers for the 2-9 and 2-3 CSC – East Clippers.

Plainfield couldn’t get its offense in gear in losing 67-41 to Waterford.  The Lancers contained high-scoring Steve Jankowski, limiting him to a dozen points.  His teammates Liam Jacobs and Isaiah Fort each had 10 points in the loss.  Plainfield is 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference – Medium Division.

Tourtellotte continued its downward spiral losing 66-33 to Griswold and 60-24 to Lyman Memorial.  The hapless Tigers are 0-12 and 0-6 in the ECC – Small Division.  Ellis Tech was dropped by Cheney Tech 63-37, falling to 3-8 on the year as their postseason hopes slowly fade. 

Nation’s #3 PSA Loses Nail Biter

Putnam Science Academy, the nation’s #3 ranked prep school in the country, lost a game that easily could have been a victory, when it was beaten by South Kent School 93-91.  South Kent is ranked #9 in the latest poll.

The Mustangs led 51-48 after the first 20 minutes of play but were outscored 45-40 in the second half.  Josh “The Igniter” Wallace was immense for coach Tom Espinosa’s team scoring 29 points off the bench to lead all scorers.  He also corralled seven rebounds.

Hamidou Diallo had a strong game scoring 20 points while point guard Kealen Ives added 11 markers.  PSA drops to 19-3 with the loss.

Marianapolis V1 fell below .500 after dropping a pair of games over the weekend.  The Golden Knights lost on the road to St. Andrew’s 63-59 in a game that could have gone either way. The Knights led by three points, 35-32 at intermission but let the advantage slip away in the final 20 minutes.  Tom Horvat was spectacular in the loss with 25 points, including five from three-point land.  Ryan Bernstein contributed 16 markers.

The Golden Knights of coach Andrew Vitale fell to 7-8 on the season when they were beaten at home by Wilbraham & Monson Academy 68-65.

The Marianapolis V2 squad leveled its record at 5-5 with a satisfying 57-49 victory over Worcester Academy.  The Knights were led by the duo of Colin Hourihan who netted 21 points and Andrew Ford who registered 18.

Pomfret School extended its winning streak to four games with a 75-51 win over The Wheeler School of Rhode Island.  The win raises the Golden Griffins to 9-4 on the season.  Obin Okeke, who’s been hot of late, tallied a season high 20 points to pace the win.  High-scoring Cam Winston had another strong all-around game with 17 points.