By Ron P. Coderre

The long-awaited high school boys’ basketball season got underway last week with a flourish of games featuring all six local entries.

Although there’s no longer a Greyhound Park in Plainfield, the Plainfield High School Panthers broke from the gate as though they were chasing the “rabbit” or the more politically correct “bone.”  The Panthers of coach Bob Arremony enjoyed a perfect week, picking three wins in their first three games.

The Putnam Clippers were victorious in their only game, while Tourtellotte and Killingly were 1-1.  Woodstock lost its lone game to Killingly.  Ellis Tech, which went through the previous season without a win, appears ready to duplicate that dubious feat, losing its initial two games of the season.

Meanwhile, down in sunny Florida, the Putnam Science Academy Mustangs won 2-of-3 in the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers.  The bigger news coming out of Florida was about Hamidou Diallo.  

The rumors surrounding Diallo are running rampant and are being reported in Hartford, Norwich and beyond.  Speculation is that he may depart the Maple Street, Putnam campus and play for UConn beginning in January.  It’s also possible he may end up at Kentucky.  Or is it Arizona?  Or maybe Kansas?

Will the 6-foot, 5-inch much sought after guard forego college entirely, finish the year at PSA and enter the NBA draft?  Your guess is as good as mine.  As the rumors run rampant and speculation is coming from everywhere, Diallo is quietly showing up behind the UConn bench at the XL Center or headed off to visit one of the other schools.

Stay tuned.  Meanwhile the other student/athletes have games to play.

Plainfield Panthers Run Off 

with Three Opening Wins

Plainfield carried the momentum of its big football win on Thanksgiving Day over Griswold into the start of the basketball season by winning its first three games in convincing fashion.  The first Panther victim was their Turkey Day rival Griswold.  They posted a 10-point 56-46 victory over the Wolverines.

Marcus Robinson, the Plainfield quarterback who scored four touchdowns against Griswold on Thanksgiving, continued his mastery over the Wolverines with a 17-point performance, as he played every minute of the game in the win.  Plainfield also placed two other players in double figures.  Chris Peasley tossed in 14 big points and Markeith Conyers had 10.  Eli Malboeuf who was strong under the boards, chipped in eight points.

The Panthers then beat two teams from Windham.  They pulled off another 10-point win, beating Windham Tech 51-41 as Robinson led a balanced scoring attack again with 11 points as seven Panthers hit the scoring column.

Plainfield then turned the tables on the Windham Whippets 55-39.  The big guys, Malboeuf and Peasley, controlled the boards and led the scoring parade.  Malboeuf was game high scorer with 21 points, followed by Peasley with 13.  The Panthers are 3-0 and 2-0 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference.

Killingly opened the season at home, beating Woodstock Academy 40-39 in a come-from-behind victory.  Dommoy Ennis, with eight points and an equal number of rebounds, dropped in two free throws with less than a minute remaining for the difference in the contest.  Luke Desaulnier with a dozen and Shawn Johndrow with 11 points were in double digits for the Redmen.

Sam Majek paced the Centaurs, who led 25-20 at intermission, with 16 points.

Coach Jim Crabtree’s troops were next beaten by a good Stonington team 72-56.  Jared Gosper had 18 and Desaulnier 16 for the 1-1 Redmen.

Putnam opened its season with a close 52-50 Constitution State Conference –East win over Cheney Tech.  Putnam built up a seven-point halftime advantage and held on in the final 16 minutes for the two-point victory.  Lucas Basillio was Putnam’s leading scorer with 16 points while sophomore guard Sebastian Ramos contributed 13 points.

After dropping their opener 66-47 to Parish Hill, Tourtellotte rebounded with a 64-57 win over Wheeler on the road.  Jackson Padula with a game-high 26 points was the big reason for coach Neil Bernier’s team’s victory over the Lions.  Evan Ware and Simon Sylvia each tossed in a dozen points for the Tigers in the victory.

Against Parish Hill, Padula with 13 points was the lone Tiger in double figures.  Tourtellotte is 1-1 in the early going.

Ellis Tech was competitive in both of its losses, falling 55-48 to Achievement First and 49-45 to Vinal Tech.  Darius Deveny had 22 points in the loss to Achievement First and 17 against Vinal Tech.

  Brennan Young with 12 points was also in double digits for the 0-2 Golden Eagles.

Mustangs Fare Well in Sunshine State

Following a victory over St. Anthony’s of Texas in the City of Palm Classic, Putnam Science Academy split a pair of games in the Sunshine State.  Westtown of Pennsylvania came from behind to beat the Mustangs 55-52, handing PSA its third loss of the season.  

The Scientists led 27-22 in the low scoring affair as they let victory slip away.  Diallo with 21 points and Eric Ayala with 13 were in double figures for coach Tom Espinosa’s charges.

Putnam Science Academy, ranked 4th nationally in the latest poll, rebounded with a 77-62 victory over a very good IMG Academy of Florida team.  Three Mustangs were in double figures, led by Ayala with 20 markers.  He was joined in double digits by Jaheam Cornwall with 14 and Parisian Alexis Yetna with 13.  

The Mustangs are 13-3 on the year.  They return to action on Saturday, Jan. 7 against Lee Academy in the Hoops Dreams Magazine Classic in Boston.

 

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