Boys’ Wrap Up

Academy gets

first division

win in two

seasons

By Ryan Rumrill

Town Crier Sportswriter

WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Academy defeated Montville Jan. 6 to record their first division win in the past two seasons.

Woodstock took it by a score of 44-37. In order for this to happen, the Centaurs had to match up with the interior height of the Indians three core players: Cam Collins, John Domijan and Eric Beavin, who are taller than the Centaurs. Woodstock strategy early was to double-team Collins down low early and held a 30-26 rebound advantage despite being undersized. Sophomore Chase Anderson lead the Centaurs in scoring with 13 points, 5 of which came from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Woodstock senior Jared Bouten, who had nine points and five boards in the game also hit 5 of 6 free throws for the Centaurs. The Centaurs got great effort out of Collin Singleton who came into the game and changed the momentum defensively in Woodstock’s favor give Woodstock a 21-13 score at halftime. Aaron Johnson hitting a clutch 3-point basket to end the 8-0 run for the centaurs right before the half. The Centaurs hit 11 of 15 free throws in the fourth quarter to wrap up the victory. Nick Short was at the line contributing on four free throws in the quarter totaling his game at 9 points. Cole Hackett also scored three from the line, and Patrick Houlihan also hit 2. For Montville, Cameron Collins led the team with 10 points. Ethan McKinney finished with two game with two 3-point shots, one of which was at a pivotal moment for the Indians.  Gennaro Davis scored all five of his points in the third quarter which brought the deficit to four points. With this victory Woodstock Academy improves to (3-4) and Montville (1-6). 

Jan. 6

Putnam: 54

Norwich Tech: 39

Sebastian Ramos leads the Putnam Clippers past the Norwich Tech Warriors with 17 points in the 54-39 victory.  Lucas Bastilio contributes 14 points and grabs 12 rebounds for the Clippers (4-2) and Austin Harmon scored 10 points and brought in eight rebounds.  Nate Perdomo leads the Warriors (0-5, 0-2) in scoring with 16 points. 

Bacon Academy: 46

Killingly: 39

Luke Desaulnier led the way for the Killingly Redmen in their battle against Bacon Academy in the 46-39 game with a team-high 17 points.  Jared Gosper was next on the scoring sheet with 10 points for Killingly (3-3, 1-2). Gavin Turner and Sean Johndrow both also contributed six points.  Paul Chasse was the leading scorer for Bacon with 16 points, and Reilly Dyer had 14 points.  Maurice Underwood and Zak Sedor both scored six points. 

Jan. 4

Woodstock 53

Putnam 36

Nick Short led the Woodstock Centaurs past the Putnam Clippers with a team-high 16 points to end their two-game losing streak.  Chase Anderson added to the scoring column with 14 points for Woodstock (2-4). Lucas Bastilio was the high scorer for Putnam (3-2) with 18 points to go along with rebounds. Sebastian Ramos and Zach Cutler each added 5 points.

St. Bernard 55

Tourtellotte 44

Hunter Baillargeon scored a game-high 26 points for Saints in which they earned their first win. Connor Svab added 11 for St. Bernard (1-3). Jackson Padula led the Tigers (2-3) with 18 points.

Hyde-Woodstock 65

Prov. Country Day 50

Khalil Johnson scored a team-high 21 points in route of a 65-50 victory, in which the Wolfpack snapped a three-game skid. Michael St. Laurent added 14 points and Ian Ricketts had 10 points and eight rebounds for Hyde (3-4).

Jan. 3

NFA 68

Woodstock Academy 38

The Wildcats bounced back from their first loss of the season by holding the Centaurs to 20 points through three quarters. Seth Thomas had 19 points for Norwich and was the only player in double figures for NFA (4-1). Cole Hackett scored 10 points for Woodstock (1-4) and Nick Short had nine in their second consecutive loss.

Windham: 70

Tourtellotte: 43

Willie Brown led the way for the Windham Whippets with a game-high 36 points in a 70-43 victory over the Tigers.  Clifford Jones added a double-double for the Whippets (5-2, 2-1 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division III) with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Tourtellotte center Jackson Padula had nine points and 13 rebounds for the Tigers (2-4, 1-2). 

Jan. 7  -- prep

Putnam Science Varsity: 87

Jean De Brebeuf (Can.) 84

Kasey Walker led the way for the Mustangs with 20 points, four assists, and three steals in the win. Plainfield Alumni Liam Jacobs was hitting from all over the gym hitting on 6-10 from three-point land scoring 20 points for PSA (11-2).  Jordan Pettway also delivers 15 points, while Isiah Laurent also finished the game with 13 points. For Brebeuf, Pepin had 21 points, N. Kayl had 19 points, Wright had 17 points, and Emannuel had 14 points. 

Marianapolis 71

St. George’s 52

Marley Blommers led the Golden Knights with 15 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  Tyler Burton scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds which led Marianapolis (4-6) to their third consecutive victory. Sophomore Jared Ullstrom came off the bench and worked for 12 rebounds, 9 offensive. Senior Amani Chambe also chipped in with 12 points for the Golden Knights leading them to (2-0 in the Class B division). 

Games Postponed due to weather on Jan. 7:

Plainfield vs Waterford 

Killingly vs. Lyman Memorial

Hoop Dreams Magazine Tournament

Putnam Science Academy vs. Lee Academy (ME)

Putnam Science Varsity vs CRU Academy (NH)

Marianapolis vs. Westminister

Daillo picks University of Kentucky

Local prep standout at Putnam Science Academy commits to the University of Kentucky and intends to enroll in college next semester leaving the PSA campus.  Hamidou Diallo, the 6-foot, 6-five star recruit from Queens Village, N.Y., announced at Our Lady of Angelus Catholic Academy in Rego Park, N.Y., that he was going to enroll at the University of Kentucky for the second semester. 

The decision came down to six schools left on his list over the likes of UConn, Kansas, Arizona, Indiana, and Syracuse. Diallo ranks as the nation’s No. 11 player and the No. 3 shooting guard in the class of 2017. His commitment to the Wildcats had been expected, but says was a close decision with UConn right down to the wire. Hamidou joins the Wildcats star-studded recruiting class for next season joining 5-star recruits Jarred Vanderbilt, PJ Washington, Nick Richards, and Point Guard Quade Green, as well as top 50 prospect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to round out their recruiting class. Hamidou will enroll in the second semester of this year but plans to redshirt and will focus on preparation for next season.  The decision did not surprise Espinosa.

“I’m very happy for him. It’s a great thing. Hami loves the spotlight. He wants to go to against the biggest and the best. He wants to be an NBA lottery pick, and right now, Kentucky has the best chance to make that happen,” Espinosa said. But now it’s time for the Mustangs to get prepared for the second half of their season, and which the PSA squad made some changes bringing in 6-11, 300-pound power forward already committed to Xavier. 2018 guard Eric Ayala will have to change roles to more of the team leader with Jaheam Cornwall.  The Mustangs feature four top big men inside with Issac Kante, Malik Ondigo to go along side Seton Hall commit Darnell Brodie and the addition of Kentrevious Jones, look for the Mustangs to use their guards in pick and role situations and to feature the Bigs inside and slow the pace of games down and get the ball inside.  The Mustangs traveled to Cushing Academy Jan. 11, to take on a tough matchup against a stacked lineup of Mass Rivals AAU players on the team, which went undefeated in this past AAU circuit winning the 2016 Adidas Summer Championship, the Adidas gauntlet, the Creators cup, Peach State, and Providence Jam Fest.  The Mustangs play in the Hoop Hall Classic at Springfield College against Vermont Academy with a loaded audience of Divison 1 coaches in attendance. 

 

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