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High School Notes
Funny things
occurring on
basketball
courts
By Ron P. Coderre
As the schoolboy and girl basketball season approaches the home stretch and the postseason nears for those fortunate enough to qualify, the noose around the collar gets a little tighter and the pressure to perform is somewhat more intense. This week witnessed some unusual events taking place on the hardwood.
Marianapolis Prep enjoying some of its best team play of the year hit an unusual road block thanks to the weatherman. In mid-week, with the temperatures soaring to the near 60 degree mark, the humidity in the air created moisture on the Golden Knights playing surface creating a hockey game atmosphere. Players were slipping and sliding rather than soaring and gliding, forcing officials to halt the contest against Worcester Academy at the half with the visitors in front 35-28. The teams are awaiting a decision on how the game will be concluded.
In Colchester at Bacon Academy another unusual occurrence took place. Woodstock Academy lost a basketball game to the Bobcats, a 48-46 overtime stunner. On “Military Night” in honor of Afghanistan based Major Raymond Chicoski, whose sons Connar and Ray play for Bacon, the Bobcats played as though they were on a military mission. They ambushed the Centaurs at every turn and regaled in victory.
Ellis Tech needing a miracle to qualify for State Tournament play must be saying its prayers every day. The Techsters beat Grasso Tech to raise their record to 5-9. They need three wins in the final six opportunities to get into the postseason. Tourtellotte behind the play of Kaevon Safford, Mike Jezierski, Shawn Houle and “Big Ben” Benkowski picked up wins over Wheeler and Griswold to qualify for postseason play.
On the distaff side there was nothing funny about Pomfret School’s two wins. The Lady Griffins continue to roll at 15-2. Plainfield behind the leadership of Morgan Griffin (63 points in two games) is playing like a team on a mission. The Lady Panthers are 12-5 thanks to big wins over Lyman and St. Bernard. Putnam behind the great play of Ashley Espinosa continues to roll along at 12-4.
Scoring Races
The boys’ scoring race witnessed a new name pop up to challenge Ian Converse of Woodstock for the top spot among offensive leaders. Converse has been on top of the heap all season and was being chased by Kaevon Safford of Tourtellotte until this week. Dayshon Smith of PSA with a 32 point performance against McDuffie School has forced his way into the runner-up spot only a 10th of a point behind the leader. Converse is at 20.6 points per game while Smith is at 20.5.
Safford (19.3) and Ryan Pambuku (18.1) of Plainfield occupy the next two spots. A newcomer to the scoring race, Isaiah Henderson of Pomfret moved into the fifth spot with an average of 17.6 ppg.
Jonte Rutty of Putnam Science Academy continues his torrid pace from beyond the three-point arc. He now has 60 treys in 17 games for the Scientists. He extended his lead in the race to 19 over his teammate, Dayshon Smith who has 41. Killingly’s Devon Willard has suddenly emerged as a three-point threat and is tied with Smith behind Rutty at 41. Plainfield’s Pambuku with 39 is next followed by a newcomer, Malkese Edwards of Pomfret who has 36. Eric D’Aguanno (31) of Marianapolis rounds out the leaders..
Steady Morgan Griffin of Plainfield has moved into the lead in the ladies’ scoring race, averaging 16.7 points a game. Putnam’s Ashley Espinosa with a big offensive performance against Ellis Tech is right on Griffin’s tail, at 16.4 points a game. Last week’s second place scorer Janicha Diaz of Hyde-Woodstock is in the show spot at an even 15 points a contest.
Putnam’s Monica Phongsa who’s been the three-point leader all season is now tied at the top with Jill Bodreau of Marianapolis. Phongsa and Bodreau are leading the pack with 26 treys.
Boys Scoring Leaders
Ian Converse, Woodstock 20.6
Dayshon Smith, PSA 20.5
Kaevon Stafford, Tourtellotte 19.3
Ryan Pambuku, Plainfield 18.1
Isaiah Henderson, Pomfret 17.6
Three-Point Leaders
Jonte Rutty, PSA 60
Dayshon Smith, PSA 41
Devon Willard, Killingly 41
Ryan Pambuku, Plainfield 39
Malkese Edwards, Pomfret 36
Eric D’Aguanno, Marianapolis 31
Girls Scoring Leaders
Morgan Griffin, Plainfield 16.7
Ashley Espinosa, Putnam 16.4
Janicha Diaz, Hyde-Woodstock 17.3
Three-Point Leaders
Monica Phongsa, Putnam 26
Jill Bodreau 26
RPC’s Super
Conference Standings
Boys
Marianapolis 14-4
Woodstock 13-2
PSA 12-8
Plainfield 10-5
Pomfret 8-7
Tourtellotte 8-7
Hyde-Woodstock 7-9
Ellis Tech 5-9
Killingly 5-11
Putnam 3-12
Girls
Pomfret School 15-2
Marianapolis 14-7
Putnam 12-4
Plainfield 12-5
Hyde-Woodstock 9-3
Woodstock Academy 7-11
Tourtellotte 3-13
Killingly 2-16