By Ron P. Coderre

Putnam Science Academy, after falling to South Kent, is on another win streak entering the holiday break.  The Mustangs picked up three encouraging victories after falling for the first time this season.  They now stand at 11-1.

Pomfret School enjoyed a perfect 2-0 week with one win coming over Hyde School-Woodstock.  Hyde bounced back winning two-of-three after losing to the Golden Griffins.  Marianapolis lost its only game of the week.

Plainfield under coach Bob Arremony, entering his 36th season, opened the boys’ high school season with a convincing win over outmatched Ellis Tech.

Mustangs Close Out First Half of Season

 on Winning Note

The Putnam Science Academy Mustangs, who gained notoriety over the Christmas season with their caroling, remained in tune closing out the early portion of the schedule on a winning note.  The Mustangs posted wins over Cheshire Academy (82-58), Believe Prep (88-66) and Wilbraham and Monson (81-59).

In the win over Cheshire at the Basketball Hoopfest at Western New England College, 13 players hit the scoring column led by Mamadou Diarra and Saul Phiri with 15 points apiece, while Hamidou Diallo (13) was also in double digits.     

The Mustangs continued their torrid scoring against Believe Prep placing a dozen players in the scorebook.  Phiri with 17 points led a parade of four players in double figures, including Diallo (14), Tyere Marshall (12) and Diarra (11).

Coach Tom Espinosa’s troops closed out the 2015 portion of the schedule with another solid team effort as 13 players scored in the win over Wilbraham and Monson.  The Mustangs jumped on W & M early, bolting to a 42-22 halftime advantage.  Eric Ayala led the PSA scorers with 13 points, while also grabbing five rebounds.  Marshall was also in double figures with 11 points.  The Mustangs defense held University of Kentucky-bound 6-foot, 10-inch Wenyen Gabriel to 10 points.

Pomfret School and Hyde School-Woodstock, two preps separated physically by about five miles, clashed in Pomfret with the Golden Griffin coming out on top 64-53.  Christian Wilson with 21 points led a trio of double figure scorers in the win.  Cam Winston and John Long each contributed 17 points for the winners.  The Hyde Wolfpack also had three players in double figures as Rodney Ray had 11, Jordan Burney 13 and Eamon Joyce 17.

Pomfret School at 4-1 went to the break with a 76-54 victory over Governors Academy and 64-41 win over Kingswood-Oxford.  The Griffs hit 8-of-11 from three-point range in the Paul “Frosty” Francis Kingswood-Oxford Invitational against Governors Academy.  Vincent Conn had 23 points for the winners, while Wilson chipped in 21.

In the win over Kingswood-Oxford the Griffs were paced once again by Conn who poured in a team-high 18 points.  Cam Winston added 16 markers to the winning cause, while Gerald Blount was immense on the boards with seven rebounds and five blocked shots.

Hyde- Woodstock picked up a pair of victories, beating Gunnery School 64-56 and Salisbury School 54-53.  Ray had 18 points and 11 caroms in the win over Salisbury in the consolation game of the Bob Southall Classic.  

Joyce was Hyde’s high scorer in the victory over Gunnery as he poured in a team-high 23 points.  Ray and Burney also hit double digits with 15 points apiece.  In its only other contest, Hyde was dropped by Kimball Union 63-56, as Ray (15), Joyce (14) and Chris Carroll (10) led the way in the loss, which put Hyde-Woodstock at 3-4 entering the holiday.

Marianapolis at 1-6 closed out its 2015 portion of the schedule with a 59-37 loss at the hands of Suffield Academy.  

Plainfield & Ellis Tech Tap Off High 

School Season

Plainfield and Ellis Tech, a pair of unlikely opponents, were the first high school teams to play in the 2015-2016 basketball season.  The Panthers were easy victors, posting an 82-29 victory.  Lanky Liam Jacobs was the show for Plainfield as he hit for a game-high 24 points, as 13 Panthers got into the scoring column.

Holiday Tournaments on Tap

The Centaur Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Dec. 28 (Monday), 29 (Tuesday), and 30 (Wednesday).  On Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. the Centaurs will take on Cheney Tech.  The following day Cheney Tech plays Greenwich High School at 5 p.m. and on Dec. 30 the Centaurs and Greenwich square off at 3 p.m.

The CNB a Division of ESB Clipper Classic is scheduled for Dec. 26 and 28 with games at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  The teams include the host Clippers along with Killingly, Tourtellotte and Ellis Tech.  All games are scheduled for the “new” Putnam High School gym.