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DJ Dormu. Photo by Thomas Netzer


Travis Upchurch has turned some heads of late at Putnam Science Academy, but not just because people were watching the uber-quick guard blow past them on the basketball court. It’s actually for something quite different but also makes him even quicker in the process.
Upchurch, who was an end-of-the-bench player on the national champion Prep team last year and is with the Elite team this season, has added a jumpshot to his offensive repertoire that defenders must respect. And when they get too close, he’s gone to the rim.
“Anyone with some type of dynamic athleticism, the opposing team always has to guard against that biggest strength first,” said PSA Elite coach John Cavaliere. “Travis is probably the fastest kid on any floor any time he plays. There aren’t many who, full sprint, are as fast as Trav. So teams have to give him space, which means that jumpshot is everything. When he hits that jumper and teams have to guard him, he knows he can get by and get whatever he wants.”
Last Wednesday, he had 27 points coming from all three levels (including four 3-pointers) in a thrilling 115-107 overtime victory over Our Savior Lutheran.
In a wild game that saw both teams hold double-digit leads, PSA nearly won it at the buzzer of regulation, but Jalen Claude’s desperation 3-pointer clanged off the back of the rim. So it went to overtime tied at 92. After OSL took a 95-94 lead, PSA went on a 9-0 run capped by Claude’s 3 from the left corner with 2:28 to play. Yhali Steinhauer scored 12 of his 26 points in overtime of that win.
Upchurch followed up the next night with a team-high 20 points in a 72-60 road win over South Kent. Included in those 20 points were six-of-eight free throws in the second half, including his final four to seal the victory.
“All last year, and throughout the summer, I had a workout with my dad where I’d just form shoot, strictly form shoot for about 30 minutes every day,” Upchurch said. “That helped a lot, just getting shots up. It took a good, hard-working two-and-a-half or three weeks before it felt comfortable. But I got my work in, started getting in a groove, and now it makes me an offensive threat.”
Claude added 16 points, Thierry Lokrou had 15, and Pop Wadang finished with 10 for the Mustangs.
The boys’ Prep team, ranked No. 3 in the country, went 3-0 last week, including a 72-68 road win over No. 4 South Kent Thursday. Darryl Simmons had yet another huge game against some of the best competition in the country, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and zero turnovers to lead PSA to the thrilling victory.
Mouhamed Dioubate played a big game as well, ending with 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.
PSA then beat Lee Academy 90-63 Friday night behind 13 points and 11 rebounds from Ben Ahmed, and 14 points apiece from DJ Dormu and Baye Ndongo
The Mustangs capped their week with a 79-70 victory against Newman School, getting 17 points and 14 rebounds from Dioubate, and 11 points apiece from Simmons, Miles Rose, and Blake Barkley.
The boys’ Varsity team beat Plainfield 62-23 Wednesday, led by Mario Espinoza, who scored a game-high 14 points, and Martin Poliuchovic and Michael Olorunsola, who both finished with nine points. PSA lost last Monday, 79-73 to Fisher College, despite a career-high 25 points for Erick Aponte. Olorunsola scored 16 points, and Poliuchovic and Shane Sebastian-Smalls both finished with 12 for the Mustangs, who made a late run to get themselves in it at the end.
The girls Select team lost both of its games last week, 60-46 at Hoosac and 81-56 at Busche Academy. Zuzanna Komor had 14 points, Hailey Johnson 13, and Kayani Jackson 11 against Hoosac. Astou Ndiaye had a team-leading 19 points, and Komor finished with 18 for the Mustangs against Busche.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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