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PSA executes
solid wins
Putnam Science Academy won a pair of home games last week in convincing fashion, winning by an average margin of 28 points.
Terrell Ard had his finest game of the season on Nov. 15, with his all-around game on full display. The 6-foot, 8-inch wing had 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals as the Mustangs improved to 6-0 with a 119-89 win over Redemption Christian Academy, from Troy, N.Y.
“Terrell played great,” said PSA coach Tom Espinosa. “He played hard. That’s what we need from him every day. He was a key for us in the win.”
Despite the 30-point margin, PSA wasn’t overly sharp, particularly early on. But Ard sparked the Mustangs in the first half, and their depth eventually overwhelmed Redemption.
“It definitely wasn’t pretty, we didn’t play our best basketball today,” Espinosa said. “I give a lot of credit to Redemption. They weren’t the biggest team, but they were tough. They kind of got us out of our game a little bit but I thought we finished strong.”
In addition to Ard, six other players scored in double figures, including Hassan Diarra (team season-high 23), Josh Gray (12 points, to go with six rebounds and three blocks), and Elijah Everett (11 points, seven boards, four assists).
Mekhi Gray added 13 points and five rebounds, Juju Murray 11 points and five assists, and Vlad Goldin 10 points and three blocks.
The game got a little chippy in the second half, as Redemption appeared to take out some of its frustration in hard fouls against PSA players.
“It’s like the other team is trying to show us up, trying to show us that we’re not tough enough for them,” Diarra said. “But we’re a very tough team, nobody’s got to worry about that.”
The Mustangs had a cleaner game on Nov. 12, and beat another undermanned team, this time Navy Prep 91-65.
Diarra had 18 points, 10 assists, and five steals, and Josh Gray nearly had a double-double himself, adding nine points and 13 rebounds (and three blocks) in the win.
Everett and Julian Dozier provided good lifts for PSA, Everett using his size and Dozier his playmaking abilities to finish with 12 and 13 points, respectively.
“I just read and react, play off instinct,” Dozier said. “Whatever the defense gives me, I’ll take. If I can score, I’ll score. If I can get my teammates involved, then I’ll do that.”
D’Maurian Williams had 11 points off the bench and Marty Silvera added 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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