Boys' Wrap-up

Holiday 

tournaments 

highlight prep

hoops week

By Ron P. Coderre

The National High School Hoops Festival and the Blackburn Tournament at Worcester Academy kept Putnam Science Academy postgraduate unit and Marianapolis Prep busy last weekend as prep hoop action intensified prior to the long Christmas holiday break.

The Putnam Science Academy varsity program experienced a down week, losing both games it played.  Hyde School-Woodstock, which is competing in its final season on the Northeastern Connecticut campus, is off to a 2-0 start.   Pomfret School lost in a down-to-the-wire contest to Millbrook School.  

Meanwhile the local high schools are preparing to tap off their seasons this week now that all the football equipment has been carefully stored away for another year.

Putnam Science Academy Facing the Iron

Putnam Science Academy postgraduate program prepared for the National High School Hoops Festival in Hyattsville, Md., against Westtown School and Gray Collegiate by waltzing past visiting Navy Prep of Newport, Rhode Island 99-53.  The game, which was played in Putnam, was witnessed by Boston Celtics President and General Manager Danny Ainge.

The Scientists gave Ainge and the crowd on hand a good show as they jumped out to a 44-21 halftime advantage and never looked back.  The score book was filled with numbers as 11 of the 12 PSA players who saw action hit the scoring column.

Ainge, who was on hand to watch Hamidou Diallo, got an idea what Diallo is capable of doing on the court.  Diallo, who’s been in coach Tom Espinosa’s doghouse lately due to team issues, had a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win.  

Eric Ayala, who’s getting a lot of looks from Division I schools, led the way with 19 points.  He was joined in double figures by the emerging Isaac Kante who added a dozen in the runaway victory.  The win put the Mustangs at 7-2 as they headed out for the tourney in Maryland.

Diallo finally rose to the occasion in the opening round of the National High School Hoops Festival pouring in 29 points to go with nine rebounds.  Diallo received offensive support from Malik Ondigo, who had a dozen markers and eight caroms.  Parisian Alex Yetna also had a double-double with 11 points and a dozen rebounds.  Ayala, who can always be counted on, contributed a steady all-around game with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists and a pair of blocks, helping the Mustangs dominate the backboards 47-21.

Ayala, who emerged as the game Most Valuable Player, led the Mustangs to a perfect weekend with a 74-47 victory over Gray Collegiate.  Ayala had 18 points, six rebounds and three assists as PSA strolled to the win.  Three other Mustangs were in double figures including Diallo (12 points), and Kante and Yetna with 10 markers each.  The Scientists are now 9-2 on the season before moving on to the Basketbull Hoopfest in Holyoke, Mass.  

On Sunday, December 18 the team departs on a four day junket to Fort Myers, Florida for the City of Palms Classic.  The mustangs will then be off on the Christmas Holiday break before resuming action on January 7.

The little Mustangs, PSA’s varsity program, hit a bump in the road when it was beaten 114-91 by Post University and 84-77 by Redemption Christian Academy.

In the loss to Post, the Mustangs were led by the trio of Adham Floyd (23 points), Manny Warren (19) and Kasey Walker (17).  Despite a quartet of double figure scorers, the Mustangs of coach Travis Godley fell to their second loss of the season at the hands of Redemption.  Jordan Pettway was the top scorer with 13 markers, followed by Warren (12), Nate Patenaude (11) and Amir Paul (10).  The loss drops the team to 5-2 on the season.

Hyde School-Woodstock moved to 2-0 on the early season with an easy 72-21 win over the Williams School in a game played in New London.  Khalil Johnson paced the Wolfpack with 15 points.  He was joined in double digits by Ian Ricketts with a dozen markers and Mike St. Laurent who chipped in 11.

Marianapolis picked up its first win of the season, a well deserved 45-42 victory over Williston Northampton, prior to embarking for Worcester and the Blackburn Tournament.  Joe Del Ricci was the floor leader for coach Andrew Vitale as he led the way to the victory with 15 points and a strong defensive effort.

In the opener of the Blackburn Tournament the Knights were beaten 75-54 by Proctor Academy.  Owen Soontjens was the lone bright spot for the Golden Knights with 17 points.  They followed that loss with another defeat in the consolation contest.  Bradford Academy took the measure of the Golden Knights 82-69.  Marley Blommers had 21 points and Del Ricci 18 in the loss.  The Knights are 1-4.

Pomfret School lost a close contest to the Millbrook School in a high scoring affair 80-76.  Christian Wilson enjoyed a terrific afternoon on the hardwood for Pomfret School, posting a double-double, 32 points and 13 rebounds.  Shannon Denny added 14 points for the 0-2 Griffs in the loss.

 

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