PSA’s girls’ basketball team has endured more of a rebuilding season than it anticipated this year, losing more than it has won.
But the Mustangs took out a season’s worth of aggression last weekend – particularly Saturday afternoon – to head into the new week on a high note. PSA drubbed Hyde School (Maine) 106-33, registering season-highs in points and margin of victory.
Carlota Lopez had 21 points, nine assists, and four steals, as PSA put it all together for the first time since early in the season. Carmen Plata had her best game, finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds. Five other Mustangs scored 10 or more points, including: Helin Yoztyurk (12), Alicia Jimenez (11), Alba Granell (11), Helena Kovacic (10), and Kate Lipatova (10). Elif Goskel finished with eight points and six rebounds, Tati Bell had eight points and five boards, and Lina Ostos chipped in five points.
“Everyone got involved,” coach Greg Canzater said. “We shared the ball, and good things happened for us. We didn’t waste the first half of this game, like we did last time out. We came out and played a full game.”
The previous game Canzater referenced was Friday’s 54-46 win over Hoosac. PSA led just 18-12 at halftime, as turnovers and bad shots limited the offense. But the Mustangs exploded for 21 points in the third quarter to open up an 18-point lead and were able to coast from there. Hoosac hit a couple 3-pointers late to make the score look closer.
Lipatova had six points, 12 rebounds, and three steals. Yoztyurk led PSA (7-14) with 11 points, while Lopez added nine, and Goskel finished with six points.
The boys’ Varsity team lost twice but also got a big win – 74-68 – over rival St. Thomas More Wednesday. Julien Ville was one of four PSA players to score in double figures, finishing with a game-high 22 points. Martyn Poliuchovic added 15 points, Ilan Da Silva-Alp knocked down four 3-pointers on his way to 12 points, and Amyas Hall-Chiari added 10 for PSA.
Hall-Chiari had 15 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists, and Shane Sebastian-Smalls added 19 points, but it wasn’t for PSA in a 75-65 loss to MacDuffie Monday. Vlad Vetrov finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
PSA dropped a 77-63 decision to CATS Academy Thursday, despite 13 points from Ville and 12 more from Da Silva-Al. Sebastian-Smalls finished with 10 points, three assists, and three steals, Hall-Chiari had eight points and five rebounds, and Vetrov charted seven points and eight boards in the loss as PSA finished the week 7-7.
The boys’ Elite team started its week strong, posting a complete 88-73 win over South Kent Tuesday, as Javelle Epps led a balanced and team-wide effort with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
DJ Germann had 13 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals, while Jalen Claude added a team-high 22 points for PSA, which led by just four at halftime.
Sebastian Fermin had 11 points, and Octavius Wheeler had 10. Carter Mungin finished with five points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Tyler Hansen hit a pair of big 3-pointers, and Josh Ngobi and Jude Gonzalez played excellent defense for PSA.
PSA then struggled on offense Thursday night, scoring a season-low in a 66-60 loss to Mitchell College JV. Epps led PSA, which averaged 97 points over its previous six games, with 16 points. Wheeler and Claude both added nine for the Mustangs, who then gave up a season-high in points Sunday in a 110-89 loss to Winchendon. Mungin had 23 points and seven rebounds, but PSA fell behind early and could never recover in the loss.
Germann had 10 points, five rebounds, and six assists for PSA (13-5). Claude added 13 points, Fermin had 10, and Wheeler chipped in six points, six assists, and five rebounds. PSA trailed 22-8 about four-and-a-half minutes into the game, then went on a run to cut the deficit to seven a few minutes before halftime but could get no closer.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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