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The Woodstock Academy boys’ basketball team qualified for the Division III state tournament Feb. 16 with a 70-59 win over Fitch in Groton.
“From 2-8 in our first 10 games to 6-3 in our second half with a chance to get our ninth win at home on Monday is just plain fantastic. We’re thrilled,” said coach Marty Hart.
The Centaurs finished up the regular season with a game at home Feb. 19 that was too late for this edition.
The Falcons (3-16) have not had the best of seasons, but came on to the floor charged up Feb. 16 as it was their Senior Night game.
Fitch scored 21 first quarter points, nine of those by senior Justice Farris, who scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half.
Despite that effort, the Centaurs (8-11) kept pace.
The score was tied at the end of the first quarter and The Academy was only down by three, 37-34, at the half.
“The pace favored Fitch in the beginning, but once we started getting stops and scoring inside, everything started to open up from the outside, too,” Hart said.
Chase Anderson scored 12 of his 24 points in the second half and Cole Hackett added 10 of his 18.
The Centaurs were ahead by three at the end of the third and gradually pulled away in the final quarter.
“Eight wins is great. We are going dancing,” Hart said. “I am proud of the work the players and coaches have put in. More importantly, we are getting stronger and will be a tough out in the upcoming (Eastern Connecticut Conference) and state tournaments.”
The Academy put itself in position to qualify with a 73-41 win over Montville Feb. 13.
The Centaurs pulled away from the Indians by scoring 30 points in the middle two quarters to take an 18-point lead.
Luke Mathewson, Anderson and Hackett combined to score all 18 first quarter points to give the Centaurs the early lead.
The Academy scored only 11 second quarter points, but added 19 in the third including eight points from Aaron Johnson to take the 48-30 lead going into the final quarter.
Samuel Plummer came off the bench to seal the deal.
He hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with a team-high 16 points.
Hackett ended with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Anderson finished with 13 and 10 respectively.
Prep Basketball
The Centaurs Gold prep basketball team earned a split over the weekend at the Brewster Academy Invitational.
Feb. 17 the Centaurs downed Covenant College Prep in Wolfesboro, N.H., 95-73.
Jakigh Dottin led the Centaurs with 18 points while Dibaji Walker chipped in with 16 and The Academy raised its record to 29-4.
The win followed on the heels of a tough, 82-81, defeat at the hands of host Brewster Feb. 16.
Ty Perry led the way in that game for the Centaurs with 18 while Walker again contributed 16 points.
The Centaurs Blue Prep boys’ basketball team lost its third straight at home Feb. 17 at the Alumni Fieldhouse.
The Isaiah Christopher School downed the Centaurs, 86-83, to drop the Blue squad to 17-11 on the season.
Gedi Juozapaitis paced the Centaurs with 23 points while Alex Illic added 19.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director