By Ron P. Coderre

In one of the worst weeks in local boys’ high school basketball history the six schoolboy teams in the Putnam Town Crier coverage area posted a combined 1-15 record.  High school followers are scratching their collective heads wondering what’s happened to basketball in our corner of the State.

Putnam, which had two losses, was the only team to post a victory and that was over winless Ellis Tech.  Killingly, Woodstock Academy and the Techsters were each 0-3 on the week, while Tourtellotte and Plainfield all were 0-2.

In the prep ranks, Putnam Science Academy continues to move toward a slot in the National Prep Tournament as the Mustangs were ranked #4 in the latest National poll and boast a 21-2 record.  Pomfret School, Marianapolis and Hyde School-Woodstock all picked up at least one win during the last week.

Where Have All 

the Victories Gone?

Putnam posted the only high school victory of the week in a woeful showing for the schoolboys.  The Clippers beat lowly Ellis Tech 67-40 behind 17 points by Dan Porcic and 12 from Brevon Harmon.  The 6-6 and 4-2 Constitution State Conference – East Division Clippers were beaten in their other two contests 63-47 by Norwich Tech and 62-51 by Whitney Tech.  Porcic had 16 in the loss to Norwich Tech and Harmon 10 in the loss to Whitney Tech.

Ellis Tech continued its downward spiral, losing its other two games, 82-64 to Grasso Tech and 100-30 to Rocky Hill.  The 0-12 on the season and 0-6 in the CSC – East Division Golden Eagles only consistent scorer was Trent Raymond who posted 23 against Grasso Tech and 19 in the onslaught at Rocky Hill.

Killingly fell to 4-9 overall and 1-4 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference – Medium Division when the Redmen lost 59-46 to Griswold, 69-54 to Bacon Academy and 70-47 to Waterford.  Freshman Luke Desaulnier had 11 points in the losses to Griswold and Waterford.  Against Bacon Academy Chace Wood had 20 and Brendan Turner posted 15.

Tourtellotte at 4-9 overall and 0-4 in the ECC Small Division was dumped by Griswold 73-44 and by St. Bernard 69-44.  Evan Ware with 17 against the Saints and 14 against the Wolverines was the lone double figure scorer for coach Neil Bernier.

Plainfield went to double overtime before falling to New London 65-58.  The Panthers had a three-point lead with less than a second but a controversial foul call allowed New London to make three crucial free throws knotting the contest.  Liam Jacobs and Jeff Nicolosi had 14 points apiece and Dylan Horn added a dozen for the 7-5 and 2-3 ECC Medium Division Panthers.  

Plainfield lost another close contest in its other game, falling 68-65 to East Lyme.  Once again Jacobs was high scorer with 16 points.  He was matched by David Carpenter.  Dylan Horn and Connor Davis each added 11 for Plainfield.

Woodstock Academy 4-8 on the season and 0-4 in the ECC Large Division lost to Montville 61-54 and Bacon Academy 65-31.  Sam Majek with 19 in the Montville game and 14 against Bacon was high scorer for Woodstock.  In a contest at CCRI against 16-2 Johnston, the Centaurs fell to their sixth consecutive loss 51-44.  Nick Short had 17 points in the loss. 

Putnam Science Academy 

on a Roll

At the request of St. Andrew’s, who didn’t want to play in the Putnam Science Academy bandbox, the Mustangs moved the contest against the Saints to Hyde School-Woodstock.  Regardless of the venue, PSA played its usual run-and-gun offense and in-your-jersey defense to pull away for a 104-82 victory.

The Scientists placed five players in double figures led by the smooth Hamidou Diallo with 23 points and sharpshooting Saul Phiri with 21 markers.  It was however, the inspirational play off the bench by leftie Tyere Marshall that propelled PSA to the win.  When they needed him most due to foul trouble for Mamadou Diarra, Marshall came through with flying colors posting 15 points.  Diarra added 13 points and Eric Ayala with a strong floor game had 11.

The Mustangs then opened a two-game series with visiting the Lee Academy Pandas of Lee, Maine, with a hard fought 85-63 win on Saturday evening in front of Dr. Tieqiang Ding, president of the school, and an overflow crowd on the Maple Street campus.  Much to the delight of the large throng they witnessed the debut of PSA’s latest addition Zach Brown.

Brown didn’t disappoint!  He had 14 points and was an intimidating force on the defensive end of the court.  He entered the game at the 15:17 point of the first half.  His first basket as a Mustang was in the books at the 14:08 mark and his first personal foul at 13:13.  His initial dunk, which brought the house to its feet, came at 12:56.  Overall he had a very good first showing as he continues to learn coach Tom Espinosa’s offensive and defensive schemes.

Diallo, who is on a hot streak, paced the offense, which had four players in double figures, with 20 points.  He was followed by Brown’s 14 and 13 points apiece from Diarra and Ayala. The Panda’s Sergio El Darwich had a great all-around game, scoring 26 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and picking up eight assists.  For a good measure El Darwich also had three steals and three blocked shot for coach Igor Vrzina.

In a rough and tumble matinee affair on the last day of January the Mustangs prevailed over the Pandas 95-76, as New London’s Collin Sawyer came off the bench to ignite PSA in the second half.  Sawyer, known for his three-point shooting, hit six-of-seven from long range and was the Mustang’s leading scorer with 19 point.  Sawyer was joined in double figures by Diallo (15), Diarra (14) and Brown and Phiri with a dozen each.  El Darwich had 18 for Lee.  

Pomfret School raised its record to 10-3 with a 71-61 win over St. Mark’s School.  The one-two punch of Cam Winston, who had 24 points and Vince Conn with 18, led the Golden Griffin to their fourth consecutive victory.  Pomfret was 25-of-37 from the charity stripe.

Marianapolis lost two-of-three games, beating Hyde School 75-65 and losing to Brooks School 56-43 and Rivers School 63-42.  In the win over Hyde the Golden Knights had four players in double figures, led by Joe Del Ricci with 19 points and Dominique Senat with 16.  Audric Sandoval and Marley Blommers each chipped in a dozen for the 4-14 Knights.  The Wolfpack’s Eamonn Joyce was the game high scorer as he was unstoppable pouring in 32 points in the loss.  Rodney Ray added 16 for Hyde.

In the loss to Brooks, Blommers had 15 points and Del Ricci 14.  Against Rivers School, the Knights were unable to put together a consistent offense as Del Ricci with 15 points was the sole double figure scorer.

Hyde split its other two contests.  The Wolfpack beat Wheeler School 76-67 as Ray posted a double-double with 19 points and a dozen caroms.  Jordan Burney was Hyde’s top scorer with 21 points and Joyce added 12.  The Wolfpack then fell to Lee Academy 86-65 despite 21 points from Joyce, 19 from Ray and 10 from Burney.  Hyde is 6-7 on the season.

 

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