By Ryan Rumrill

Town Crier Sportswriter

Jan. 15 the Mustangs took their game to the HoopHall Classic invitational game against Vermont Academy in the contest that premiered the Prep school matchup that included numerous top ranked players. The Mustangs came away with an 81 to 79 win over Vermont Academy.

The Mustangs faced off against a tough interior and shooters on the perimeter and a top-ranked team in Vermont, which plays good defense and knocks down three-pointers.  In the game, Vermont hit 13 field goals from downtown and the Mustangs only hit four three-pointers but won the rebounding advantage and controlled the glass.  Eric Ayala led the Mustangs in all aspects and really stepped up his game as the role changes to more of a leader. He scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists, and had three steals. Jaheam Cornwall was huge for the Mustangs when he took control of the game and put the team on his back when they were trailing by eight he scored or assisted on every play to square up the score down the stretch.  

Cornwall scored 15 points and had four assists. Malik Ondigo was next in scoring with 13 points, four rebounds, and solidified the victory by blocking the game-tying bucket. Issac Kante scored 10 points and four rebounds, Brandon Hurst scored eight points, two three-pointers that were part of a comeback in the fourth quarter, and Alexis Yetna scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Mustangs (14-4). Simi Shittu was the leading scorer for Vermont Academy with 21 points and five rebounds, and Louisville commit Jordan Nwora scored 17 points, while Marcus Santos-Silvia scored 11 points. Vermont Academy is now 7-7.

Jan. 14

Millbrook 54

Marianapolis 51

Tyler Burton posted 19 points, 11 rebounds, and had two steals but the three game-winning streak that the Golden Knights were riding came to an end in this event. The Knights got a great contribution from Joe Del Ricci who scored 11 points and Stephon Baxter added 10 points, and Marianapolis is now 4-7 on the season.

Kingswood-Oxford 80

Pomfret 79

The Griffins were in the game the entire way behind the scoring coming from Christian Wilson who scored 27 points and Shannon Denny who also chipped in 17 points for Pomfret now 3-6.  The Griffins battled back down six points, and made a good run to almost tie up the score in the final seconds, but missed crucial free throws that decided the game.  The Griffins are now 3-6 on the year.

Killingly 45 

East Lyme 57

Luke Desaulnier leads the Killingly Redman in scoring with 18 points and five rebounds, but was outlasted by the 23 points from Dev Ostrowski and the Vikings of East Lyme.  Killingly Dommoy Ennis scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds and teammate Josh Robichaud added seven points for the Redman (3-5).  JR Ganderberger scored 12 points for the Vikings who moved to 6-2 on the season. 

Putnam 53

Grasso Tech 66

Lucas Bastilio was the senior player to lead the team in scoring and rebounding as he was battling with the win-hungry Grasso Tech Eagles, and Kariath Wiggins was the leading scorer with 19 points to earn their first victory of the season. Sebasian Ramos continued to be a leader to the Clippers (5-4, 3-1) and scored 12 points and had six assists. David Georges scored 14 points for the Eagles enroute of the 66-53 game.   

Tourtellotte 28

Lyman 45

The Tigers fell to the Bulldogs to lose the contest 45-28, where Thompson Evan Ware was the team’s leading score of the game when he put up eight points for the Tigers, and had help from Jackson Padula who scored seven points, and Devin Barbour who scored six points for Thompson (4-5).  Fitch looked to David Lopez to score the ball for them as he put up 19 points, while Hunter Hayman scored eight points, and Logan Lussier scored seven points for the Falcons (2-4)

Woodstock Academy 38

Fitch 45

The Centaurs were led by three players in their 38-45 defeat against Fitch.  Cole Hackett was the team leader in scoring with 13 points, while Jared Bouten scores nine points and three assists, and Chase Anderson scored eight points for Woodstock (4-5). Kiev Lucas was the team leader in scoring with 13 points, while Hendrick Khoury added nine points and five rebounds for the Falcons (2-4).  

Jan. 12

Putnam Science Varsity 127

Isaiah Christopher 107

Manny Warren leads the fast-paced mustangs in scoring with 30 points in another game scoring in triple digits.  The Mustangs had six players scoring double-digit points, with Amir Paul scoring 25 points, hitting three three-pointers, Isiah Laurent scored 22 points to go along with 10 rebounds in the game.  Jordan Pettway scored 19 points for the Mustangs, and Plainfield alum Liam Jacobs scored 13 points.  Dan Porcic scored 12 points, hitting three three-pointers in the game for Putnam Science (13-2).   Nate Nikovic lead the way for Isaiah Christopher with 17 points and five assists. Drew Briggins had 11 points, and Hoggs finished with 10 points.

Jan. 11

Putnam 66

Wheeler 72

Lucas Bastilio came to play against the Wheeler Lions when he scored 28 points for the Clippers, but they were outlasted by the 25 points that Ryan Dussault scored for Wheeler.  The game was back and forth and was a great defensive game from Scott Davagian forcing turnovers and scoring 10 points for the Clippers (5-4). Zack Cutler scored 16 points and six rebounds in the game.  Wheeler had help from Michael Anderson who hit five three-pointers in the game and finished with 23 points for the Lions, who now have their first win of the season. Roger Watrous added 11 points for Wheeler (1-6). 

Tourtellotte 42

Parish Hill 27

Simon Silvia was the leading scorer for the Tigers with 15 points, which came off of three three-pointers.  Evan Ware and Jackson Padula each scored 10 points for Tourtellotte (4-4). Jonah Dupuis was the leading scorer for the Pirates with 15 points, hitting four three-pointers.  Tommy Lehoux had six points and 13 rebounds for Parish Hill (5-4). 

 Putnam Science Academy 49

Cushing Academy 56

The Mustangs traveled to the brand new arena of the Cushing Bulldogs where the number sixth-ranked PSA took on #8 Cushing.  Alexis Yetna led the Mustangs in a cold shooting night for Putnam with 10 points to go along with five rebounds.  Eric Ayala added nine points and five assists, while Jaheam Cornwall contributed eight points, two of the baskets coming off three-pointers that where during runs of their own which led to timeouts.  The score at halftime was 30-22, and the defensive effort to keep the game in hand, Cushing Academy was led by Francis Uzorh who had 17 points, and Greg Kuakumensah had 11 points.  Wabissa Bede leads his team as the floor general, scored seven points, and set up passes to David Duke who had three crowd-pleasing dunks and finished with six points for Cushing Academy (9-0). The Mustangs are now 13-4. 

Jan. 10

Woodstock Academy 41

Plainfield 34

Nick Short led the Centaurs with 11 points in the victory against the unbeaten Panthers coming into the game. Cole Hackett had 10 points, where eight of those points came late in the first half to give them the 16-9 lead at the break.  Patrick Houlihan ran the point, played great defense, and finished with seven points for the Centaurs.  Markeith Conyers lead the way for the Panthers with 13 points, where he struggled in the first half, converting on 10 of which that came in the fourth quarter.  Woodstock Academy once again played great defense and outrebounded their opponents to battle out against the unbeaten panthers. Connor Davis, Eli Malboeuf, and Chris Beasley all pitched in six points for the Panthers.  This is Plainfield’s first loss of the season, and the Centaurs move back even at (4-4) and have won the last three games. 

Putnam 72

Ellis Tech 58

Lucas Bastilio sets headline numbers scoring 27 points for the Clippers and grabbed 32 rebounds in the match against Ellis Tech, leading the Clippers to stay undefeated in conference play (5-2, 3-0). Scott Davagian scored 13 points, and Zack Cutler scored 20 points and brought down six rebounds for Putnam. Darius Deveny scored a team-high 21 points for the Golden Eagles and Brennan Young adds 13 points. Nicolas Cummings scored eight points for Ellis (1-8, 0-4).  

Putnam Science Varsity 92

Commonwealth Varsity 87

Local Putnam High School transfer, Dan Porcic leads the Mustangs in their high-scoring battle with the Commonwealth Regional Varsity hitting on six three-pointers and finishing with 24 points and six rebounds. Manny Warren scored 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists, getting the ball to Isiah Laurent, who scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds. Jordan Pettway had 14 points and dished out five assists.  Kasey Walker scored 10 points for the Mustangs, moving to 12-2.

Killingly 53

Griswold 55

The Redman and the Wolverines battled in a 55-53 instant classic.  These little competitive rivalry was again another great game. Luke Desaulnier leads Killingly with 16 points, hitting on four three-pointers, while Jared Gosper who ran the point guard controlling his team effectively throughout the game, puts up 15 points himself and facilitated the ball to Sean Jandrow who scored nine points, and Gavin Turner who score six points and Dommoy Ennis was the leading rebounder for Killingly.  Max Gregory was effective shooting scoring 23 points for Griswold, while Nate Tedeschi scores 12 points and Jared Strmiska scored 10 points. 

Jan. 9

Tourtellotte 63 

Grasso Tech 51

Simon Silvia scored 22 points for the Tigers in route to a 63-51 victory over the Grasso Tech Eagles. Evan Ware scored scored 14 points for Tourtellotte (3-4) and Spencer Fulone contributes with 12 points and Jackson Padula scored eight points. Kariath Wiggins scored a game-high 24 points for the Eagles and David Georges had 11 points for Grasso Tech(0-5).

Hyde-Woodstock 69

Williams 30

Khalil Johnson scored 11 points in route to a victory that put the Wolfpack to an even record. Mehki McCray added 10 points for Hyde (4-4). Garrett Matson led the Blues (0-3) with 11 points and August Chapman added seven points and 13 rebounds.

 

..