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- Category: Past Issues
Another
squeaker
loss for
Clippers
Feb. 3 Putnam suffered another three-point loss, this time to the Tigers. The Tigers walked away with a hard-earned win 49-46. Putnam fell short of the win with some key players out or playing while ill. Doug Henry was out of school for two days with bronchitis before this game and Ryan Gunter has a knee injury forcing him to stay on the bench.
With the win only three points out of reach for the Clippers, the game could not have been any more action packed. Putnam coach Shawn Deary said, “I needed someone to step up and fill some shoes on the offensive side of the ball and Matt Daigneault did just that. Matt had 15 points and a big steal with 1 minute left to go in the game and then a huge crucial 3 point shot to bring Putnam to within 2 points of the win with only 3.3 seconds left in the game. I knew Matt had this type of game in him and I was glad to see him play it against the Tigers.”
Doug Henry, with 13 points and 12 rebounds, gave it all he had despite his illness. Also contributing for the Clippers was junior Victor De Aza Ortiz with 7 points and 7 rebounds. “He gave us good minutes” said Deary. At half time, Tigers were leading 25-20. With Tourtellotte taking the third quarter by five points it wasn’t looking good for the clippers entering the fourth. Putnam defense really picked up to hold the Tigers to only three baskets but Putnam was forced to foul, sending them to the line six times where they went 5 for 9 for a total of only 11 points in the fourth quarter. Putnam had their best offensive quarter in the fourth, scoring 18 points.
“While the time seemed to stand still with Doug Henry’s half court shot to get us into overtime, the ball fell short and bounced back off the front of the rim ending the game,” said Deary. “I think that coach Falzarano and I were probably both on the verge of a nervous breakdown at that point.” Despite the loss Deary said, “ I am very happy with my boys. We play hard and we have heart. We have filled the gym again and the Z Crew is up and running and we are bringing to Putnam some high school basketball spirit and I am very proud.”
In the end, the Tigers get their eighth victory and are headed for the State Tournaments.
Tourtellotte 14- 11- 13- 11- 49
Putnam 8- 12- 08- 18- 46
3 Pointers Matt Daigneault 3, De Aza Ortiz 1
Putnam Science Academy
By Joe West
In a game that saw very little defense, Putnam Science Academy scored their most points all season with a 91-80 win over visiting St. Luke’s Academy Feb. 6. It might have been ice cold outside, but inside the PSA gym everyone was hot! Everything both teams put up seemed to go in. As PSA Athletic Director and head basketball coach Tom Espinosa commented, “I’ve never coached a game where both teams did not miss. This was definately a crazy game. I was extremely happy with our team on the offensive side, but disappointed with our team on the defensive side. I loved the fact we scored 91 points, but we can’t give up 80.”
Leading the way for PSA was Division 1 prospect TaQuan Zimmerman, or “Tootie.” as his family and friends call him. The versatile point guard finished the game with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists. “The atmosphere in this gym tonight was amazing. I love when our students go crazy on the stage and I wanted them to leave happy.”
PSA normally plays games during the week, but when a scheduling conflict forced coach Espinosa to change the game to Feb. 6, he was pretty excited. This was the first Saturday night game in the short history of the program and Espinosa was hoping for a big turnout. “Many people in the community can’t see our games during the week because of the game times for prep schools (usually 4 p.m.), so this made it easier for some.”
Also leading the way for PSA was another college-bound player, Mike Gittens. The power forward finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 blocked shots. When asked what he thought of the first weekend night game at PSA, Gittens said, “It was awesome. I wish we could play every Saturday night!”
Frank Robinson added 20 points and 6 assists while Putnam native Dino Porcic pitched in with 10 points.
PSA’s “Sultan of Swing,” senior guard Orhan Sultanov scored 12 points on four three-pointers Feb. 4 as PSA overcame a sluggish start to beat Providence Country Day 64-40.
With the Mustangs up only 3 with 2:00 minutes to play in the first half, coach Tom Espinosa inserted Sultanov into the lineup to ignite the team. “We were coming off a big win at Hyde and I knew the kids were going to be low on energy. It was a slow start and I thought Orhan could give us a spark. What he gave us was a fire!” Sultanov made an immediate impact, making two three-pointers, which gave PSA a 29-21 lead at the half.
Sultanov came out and buried two more three-pointers early in the second half and PSA never looked backed. The win was especially satisfying for Sultanov because it was on his birthday. “I wanted to do anything I could to help the team win. Now it’s time to go have some cake!”
TaQuan Zimmerman led all scorers with 20 points and also added 5 assists. Providence native Frank Robinson had 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in his return back home.
PSA and Hyde-Woodstock use the same Dunkin Donuts on Rt. 171, but that is as close as they like to get. The battles start on the soccer field in the fall and carry over to winter when the two schools face off on the basketball court. PSA’s Espinosa really like friendly rivalry that the two schools are forming. “I speak with Sean Saucier (Hyde athletic director) a lot about trying to play as many games as possible. With prep schools so far away and travel costs being so high, it only seems natural that we play each other.”
The two schools were back on the court Feb. 3 for their second and final meeting of the season. PSA won the first game 76-60.
TaQuan Zimmerman finished with 31 points and 6 rebounds to help carry the Mustangs (14-2) to a 66-44 win. Zimmerman shot only 11-24 from the field and was held to only one three-pointer, but the post grad was not going to let his team down. “We knew we had to win this game – no mater what. This game is for bragging rights at the Woodstock Fair.”
PSA power forward Mike Gittens played a huge role in the win, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Hyde (9-8) was led by Dion Richardson, who finished with 14 points.
Marianapolis
By Colin Griggs
Marianapolis 62 --- Tilton 59
In a game that was either tied or the lead changed 28 times, it was clearly going to come down to the very end Feb. 6. The Marianapolis varsity boys’ basketball team held on to earn a 62-59 victory over Tilton in a rematch of the the last three NEPSAC Class B Championship games.
Right from the beginning of the game, the teams played fast-paced basketball and they were converting opportunities. Sophomore Kristian Medina gave MPS (15-4) their first lead of the day when he nailed a three-pointer to go ahead 5-4. In transition, Medina found junior Zach Chionuma for a layup and the Knights led 7-4.
Tilton responded with a three-point play to tie the game, but post-graduate Ike Azotam gave MPS the lead again with 13:03 remaining in the first half. Marianapolis turned the ball over and Tilton made an easy layup before coach Dave Vitale used his first timeout of the day. Tilton went ahead 12-9, but post-graduate Gedas Bertasius made a three-pointer to tie the game at 12 apiece.
The score would go back and forth for the rest of the half as the lead changed or the game was tied 18 different times before halftime. Bertasius was leading the way for the Knights in the first half with 20 points. He made a big floater in the lane with 1:49 remaining and the shot clock winding down. Then, he made a three-pointer to put MPS ahead 31-28 with 1:18 left. MPS went into the locker room ahead 32-31 at halftime.
Bertasius started the second half right where he left off as he pump faked and converted to put Marianapolis ahead by three early in the second half. Tilton made a three-pointer to tie it, but Bertasius scored the next four and then classmate Matt Barboza made a shot from the floor to put the Golden Knigths ahead by seven with 13:08 on the clock. It was the largest lead either team would have for the entire afternoon.
After a dunk from Azotam, Tilton scored eight straight points to go ahead 44-42. Sophomore Mike Neal scored his first points of the game after an assist from Azotam to tie the game at 44 apiece. The teams were battling, but Tilton converted three of four free throws to take a 54-52 lead with 6:30 remaining.
Chionuma made a jump shot from the baseline to tie the game and Azotam made the second of two from the charity stripe to put MPS ahead 55-54. For the next four minutes of play, Tilton’s dunk on an offensive rebound was the only basket from the floor for either team. And both teams were struggling from the free throw line.
With 1:25 left in the game, Tilton led 59-58, but Marianapolis showed their determination - especially on the boards. Neal tipped in a rebound to give MPS a 60-59 lead and Bertasius grabbed a big defensive rebound and was fouled near midcourt. He converted both free throws with 15 seconds left to put MPS ahead by three. Azotam would get a steal to seal the victory.
Feb. 4 the team earned a 75-66 victory against Ocean Academy. The Knights led by as many as 13 at different points during the second half. Ike Azotam finished the day with 21 points and 10 rebounds to record another double-double. Bertasius recorded 26 points to lead all scorers while also adding eight rebounds. Zach Chionuma recorded five assists and turned the ball over just four times after starting his second game in a row.
Pomfret School
Pomfret 62 --- Williston 52
The boys traveled to Williston Feb. 3 and walked away with a 10-point victory.The game started slowly, but the boys began to click and went on an extended run that saw them head into halftime with a 39 – 18 lead. That 21-point lead was a product of good team basketball, strong shooting and the rebounding of Cameron Bell. Cameron had 13 first-half rebounds. Leo Driscoll came in and stretched Williston’s defense by hitting two big three-pointers and Joe Ferro penetrated the paint and got to the foul line where he went 6 – 6 in the first half. Ferro’s 12 points led the way in the first and Mike Stickles chipped in 8, capping off the first half with a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
The second half began well as Pomfret extended the lead to 26 in the first few minutes, but then fell victim to some poor play especially on the defensive end. Williston began to get second-chance shots and Pomfret quit challenging their shots as they cut into the Griffins’ lead. Pomfret threw the ball away a season-high 24 times in the second half after only having 6 first-half turnovers. But Williston never got closer than 10. Bell finished with a season-high 20 rebounds and Andrew Robinson had a season-high 7 assists to go with 20 and 10 points from Joe Ferro and Mike Stickles respectively, both season highs.