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Helin Yoztyurk, right, and Justin Johnson, far right. Photos by Tom Netzer.


Putnam Science girls’ team comes oh so close
In a season of ups and downs, Putnam Science Academy’s girls’ basketball was oh so close to one of those “ups” Wednesday night but just couldn’t close the deal.
Helin Yoztyurk scored 16 points in her final home game but PSA came up just short – 52-50 to Busche Academy – despite a furious second-half rally.
Carlota Lopez had 15 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists for the Mustangs, who trailed 28-14 early in the third quarter. A brief but tense exchange of words between coaches energized PSA and its home crowd and fueled a comeback that saw the Mustangs force overtime by scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter alone. PSA trailed by as many as eight in the fourth but kept turning turnovers into points, including Alba Granell’s one-of-two free throws in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.
PSA had the ball with a chance to tie or win at the end of overtime but Yoztyurk’s 3-pointer was partially blocked and Kate Lipatova, who recovered the loose ball, couldn’t get a good look off. Tati Bell and a Busche player fought for the rebound as time expired.
“Thought we had it,” coach Greg Canzater said. “I really wish we could’ve gotten that one for the girls and the fans.”
Bell had a big second half and finished with five points and 10 rebounds while Lipatova was held scoreless but grabbed 12 boards for PSA (11-17).
Before the game, PSA honored Yoztyurk, Lopez, Alicia Jimenez (five points, five steals), and Carmen Plata (four points, four rebounds) as part of its Senior Night festivities. PSA also dropped a 63-54 decision at St. Andrew’s Saturday.
PSA’s Prep boys’ team went 2-1 for the week.
Fallou Gueye, Justin Johnson, and Mousa Loum put up big numbers in the second half Tuesday as PSA erased a nine-point halftime deficit for a 91-84 win at Commonwealth Academy
Gueye scored nine of his 16 points, grabbed five of his seven rebounds, and handed out four of his six assists after halftime, while Johnson had nine of his 11 points, eight of his 10 rebounds, and both of his steals in the second half.
Loum’s second half included nine points (he finished with 12 total), nine rebounds (11 total), and three blocked shots (four total).
PSA beat Our Savior Lutheran’s postgrad team 96-81 Thursday as Ben Ahmed became PSA’s all-time leading rebounder by finishing with 11 boards to go with 16 points for his 17th double-double of the season.
Imahri Wooten added 16 points and four rebounds, Grant Randall had eight points, six rebounds, and three blocks, and Justin Johnson finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Sunday, it was Ahmed (24 points, 16 rebounds) and Johnson (16 points, nine rebounds) again leading the way, but PSA struggled from behind the 3-point line, finishing just 3-of-17, in a 74-71 loss at Bridgeport Prep. Cris McElveen added 10 points and five rebounds for PSA (27-11), which had its 10-game winning streak snapped.
The Varsity team got 19 points from Amyas Hall-Chiari and 12 from Shane Sebastian-Smalls in a 67-56 loss Monday, then got 78-56 win over Busche behind Julien Ville, who led a balanced attack with 13 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and seven steals.
The game’s best moment came in the final minutes, when Eric Ruan drilled a 3-pointer for his first basket of the season, setting off a wild celebration in the gym.
Friday, Hall-Chiari scored 24 points but it wasn’t enough in a loss to Capital Prep.
The Elite team had a tough week, losing three of its four games. Sebastian Fermin scored 24 points while Ty Hansen and DJ Germann both had 14 to lead PSA to an 84-79 win at Springfield Commonwealth Tuesday.
Carter Mungin had 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and a pair of blocks, and Javelle Epps finished with a season-high 30 points in a 10-point loss to Our Savior Lutheran Wednesday; Jalen Claude had 20 points Thursday but the Mustangs had a hard time scoring, particularly in the second half, in an 84-79 loss; and Mungin had 25 points Saturday and Fermin added 18, but it wasn’t enough for PSA (19-10), which lost to Winchendon.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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