Jr. High Championships

Putnam girls

win QVJC;

boys fall

in title game

By Ron P. Coderre

The Quinebaug Valley Junior Conference has been in existence for more than 50 years.  The league originally formed as a program for junior high schools was modeled on the former Quinebaug Valley Conference, which was a high school league.  Although the high school league is sadly no longer in existence, the QVJC continues to thrive.

Run under a two division format, the league provides a competitive atmosphere based on sportsmanship for teams in the Small School and Large School divisions.

Putnam Middle School, which plays in the Small School Division, recently had both its girls’ and boys’ teams reach the championship contests.  The Lady Wolfpack walked off with the title, while the boys fell despite putting up a valiant effort.  All games were played in Canterbury at the Helen Baldwin School.

Lady Wolfpack Prevail over Eastford

The Putnam Middle School girls’ basketball team led by Kaleah Lyons, who poured in 20 points, captured the QVJC Small School Division Championship with a 55-47 victory over Eastford School.  The Putnam squad, composed primarily of 8th grade students, led throughout in the closely contested game.

Coach Jon Miller’s team received a solid effort from a number players, including 8th graders, Torie Lavoie and Molly McKeon as well as 7th grader Alex Hutchins, who will be looked at to lead the team next season.  A big fourth quarter in which the Lady Wolfpack outscored Eastford 22-6 was the difference in the outcome.

Katie Papp was Eastford’s high scorer with 17 points.

The victory concluded a perfect season for Putnam, which finished with an unblemished 14-0 record.

Putnam Boys Lose Title Game 

to Helen Baldwin

Despite a 14-point effort by Ezaviar Key, the Putnam Middle School Wolfpack of coach Derek Coderre fell at the hands of the Helen Baldwin School in the QVJC Small School Division championship game 52-35.

Canterbury’s duo of Nolan Molkenthin and Chad Graley were too much for the Wolfpack to handle.  Molkenthin was the game high scorer with 23 points while his teammate Graley chipped in 11 for the Bulldogs.  The win closes the season for Helen Baldwin, the Small School regular season winners, at 12-6.

Joining Key in double figures for Putnam was 7th grader Colby Livingston, who contributed 11 points.  Anthony Navedo in his final game at Putnam Middle School chipped in eight points.

“This team had a tremendous amount of heart.  They played through the season while overcoming a variety of adversities,” said coach Coderre.

The Wolfpack closes the book on the 2015-2016-season at 7-7.