Boys’ Wrap-up

Lucky few 

make tourney list

By Ron P. Coderre

Lady Luck shone down on a few fortunate teams in both the prep school and high school ranks as they posted wins making them eligible for postseason play.  Putnam Science Academy was selected once again for the National Prep School Championships.  This was the Mustangs second invite in the last two seasons.

Hyde-Woodstock, which played through an up and down season, put its best effort forward at the end of the season, walking off with the SENE Division I Championship trophy.  Likewise, the Marianapolis V2 program grabbed the brass ring in the SENE Division II title game and was presented the championship crown.  The Marianapolis V1 unit closed out its season, winning three of four games in the final week.  Pomfret lost its only game of the week.

Putnam High School teetering on the edge of the postseason cliff all season, received an entry into the CIAC Tournament by capturing a pair of must win contests.  The Clippers won their final two games of the year to squeak into the tourney at 8-12.  

Plainfield, which was securely locked in to the postseason, had a 1-1 week.  Killingly, which was in the same predicament as Putnam, wasn’t as fortunate.  The Redmen needing one win it their final two games lost both.  Ellis Tech finished on a losing note at 3-17.

PSA Mustangs Capture

Inaugural Big-5 Conference Title

Putnam Science Academy capped a very special week in the brief history of its basketball program, capturing the inaugural Big-5 Conference Championship.  The Mustangs racked up a well deserved 66-58 victory over nationally ranked #2 Notre Dame Prep in a game played on the Dee Rowe court at Worcester Academy.  The Mustangs were also notified of their selection into the National Prep School Championship Tournament.

The Scientists, with an enthusiastic student body on hand, parlayed its long range bombing arsenal with an active and sticky defense in walking off with the crown.  The chief offensive culprit was Quinnipiac-bound Andrew Robinson who poured in 21 points on seven three pointers.  Slick ball handling guard Kealen Ives was also in double figures with 17, while Hamidou Diallo and Vincent “The Big” Eze each added 10.

Trailing by two points at intermission 28-26, the Mustangs came out cold in the second half and fell by eight points at one juncture.  A huge run during a nine minute span in the middle of the second half, in which they outscored Notre Dame 20-10 and some key free throw shooting down the stretch spelled the difference in the win.

In the last 1:48 of the contest Josh “The Igniter” Wallace, who had seven points and controlled the boards, sank four key free throws followed by another pair from the charity stripe by Ives, as the final seconds were running out on Notre Dame.

PSA opened the week with a 111-74 victory over Rise Academy of Philadelphia.  Ives with 20 points led seven Mustangs in double figures.  The next victim for the 27-7 Scientists was a stubborn Masters School, which fell 68-62.  Andrew Robinson with 19 and Wallace with 17 were the team’s top scorers.

In a nail biter the Mustangs edged Commonwealth Academy 73-72 in a game that was close throughout.  Andrew Robinson and Wallace once again led the way with 18 and 16 points respectively.  The team finally caught a breather as it rolled over Redemption Christian 112-81 in the opening round of the Big-5 Conference Tournament.  Five players hit double digits, led by Diallo with 20 points.

The Team now awaits the National Prep School Championships at Connecticut College, which begin on March 10.  The Mustangs open against Hargrave Academy of Virginia.

Marianapolis Prep V1 team broke an 11-game losing streak with a modest three-game winning streak.  The Golden Knights opened the skein with a well played 62-47 victory over Masters School.  Senior guard Ryan Bernstein posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists to pace the victory.

Coach Andrew Vitale’s charges then slipped by Commonwealth Prep 70-69 as Tom Horvat was the team-high scorer with 20 and Dominique Senat chipped in 18.  A trip to Hoosick, N.Y., proved beneficial as the Golden Knights rode home 61-52 winners over Hoosac School.  Adrian LaFleur had 20 and Bernstein 15 to lead the way.

All good things must come to an end and that happened in the Knights final game of the season when they lost a squeaker to Vermont Academy in the Green Mountain State.  Horvat (25) and LaFleur (24) provided the offense for Marianapolis, which closes the campaign at 11-16. 

The Little Golden Knights closed out their campaign by winning the SENE Division II crown with a 53-37 victory over Rocky Hill School.  Ryan Hourihan and Andrew Ford each had 13 points in the title contest.  Marianapolis V2 unit finishes 11-8 overall and 4-0 in the SENE.

Hyde-Woodstock won the SENE Division I crown with a 79-63 victory over The Wheeler School.  Damon Gomes and Dexter Thompson paced the Wolfpack with 26 points apiece.  Eamonn Joyce posted a double-double,10 points and 19 rebounds.  In their first game of the week the Wolfpack was beaten 83-66 by Providence Country Day as Dexter once again posted 26 points.  Gomes added 21 and Joyce had another double-double with 15 points and 16 boards for 13-11 Hyde-Woodstock.

Pomfret School at 10-10 lost to Cheshire Academy 68-55 despite a solid 16-point and 10- rebound performance by Gerald Blount.  

Clippers Qualify for CIAC Tournament

Putnam, needing two wins in its final three games, began the trifecta by losing the first game to Wheeler 74-65 despite placing four players in double figures led by freshman Dan Porcic with 15.

Down to the wire still needing two wins in its final two contests the Clippers amazed their faithful by pulling off the victories and qualifying for the CIAC Tournament.  Against a Lyman team that had beaten the Clippers at home earlier in the season, the team got its first miracle when it stunned the Bulldogs 55-47.  Putnam broke out early and led 34-22 at halftime and hung on for the victory thanks to Porcic’s 21-point performance.  Seniors Jacob Guertin and Shawn Audet added 12 and 10 points respectively.

Needing to win its final game of the regular season to make the postseason, the Clippers rose to the occasion with a commanding 80-60 victory over Grasso Tech in front of a “senior night” crowd in the legendary Putnam High School gym.  This was the final high school contest in the facility that has witnessed so many fine athletes pass through its doors in its more than 60 years of existence.  Audet closed out his career with 25 points to lead the Clippers.  Captain Jacob Guertin added 11, while Porcic chipped in 16 and junior Jeremee Perez had 10.  Putnam is 8-12 entering postseason play.

Killingly needed two wins in its final two games to also get into the tournament but was unable to turn the trick.  The Redmen lost to St. Bernard 68-52 and New London 64-48.  Brendan Turner had 17 in the loss to the Saints.  Killingly finishes at 7-13, one win shy of postseason play.

Plainfield closed out its regular season schedule with a satisfying 78-69 victory over archrival Griswold.  Four Panthers were in double figures led by Liam Jacobs with 23, followed by David Carpenter 17, Andre Bergeron 14 and Steve Jankowski 18.

The Panthers lost in the first round of the Eastern Connecticut Conference Tournament in overtime to St. Bernard 61-60.  Jankowski with 27 points was immense for Plainfield in the loss.  The Panthers enter the CIAC Tournament at 14-7.

Tourtellotte completed a winless season at 0-20 when it lost to Grasso Tech 53-52.  Ellis Tech closed out a 3-17 season with a 70-34 loss at the hands of Vinal Tech.

 

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