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3 Points
PSA's Dino Porcic shoots a three-pointer during the first half against Pomfret School. Courtesy photo.
By Colin Griggs
Feb. 15, in front of a very local crowd, the Marianapolis Varsity boys’ basketball team beat Pomfret at home 83-65. The Golden Knights (18-4) pulled away late in the first half to take a commanding lead and earn the victory.
The first half of play belonged to post-graduate Gedas Bertasius. With the score tied 15-15 and 7:31 on the clock, Bertasius nailed a three-pointer. Marianapolis quickly called a timeout with the lead. Over the next 2:51, MPS went on a 14-5 run including back-to-back three-pointers for Bertasius as they forced Pomfret to take a timeout down 32-20.
Another three-pointer from Bertasius at the end of the half gave Marianapolis a 43-31 lead going into the break. Bertasius finished the half with 24 points on 6-8 shooting from behind the arc. Junior Zach Chionuma also shot well in the half as he entered the break with nine points.
The Knights cruised through the second half of play as post-graduate Ike Azotam picked up his play in the paint. Scoring double digits in the half, including an alley-oop dunk on a sweet pass from Chionuma, Azotam kept the homeside in cruise control. With the Knights ahead 77-56, sophomore Kristian Medina made back-to-back three pointers to seal the victory.
Putnam Science
By Joe West
Pomfret 73 PSA 69
POMFRET — In front of a loud and vibrant crowd, Pomfret School used a strong second half surge to outlast Putnam Science Academy, 73-69. PSA point guard TaQuan Zimmerman scored a career-high 38 points, but it wasn’t enough as Pomfret used a balanced attack to secure the win, improving to 5-14 on the year.
PSA lead 35-25 at the half, but turnovers and missed free throws proved too much to overcome as Pomfret took the lead with 2:00 remaining. Pomfret never looked back.
Early foul trouble kept Pomfret center Cameron Bell on the bench for most of the first half, but he dominated the second half, scoring all his 15 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Andrew Robinson finished with a team-high 20 points.
Mike Gittens had a solid performance for the Mustangs (16-5), scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Dino Porcic added 8 points and 7 assists, while Zimmerman had 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
Pomfret School
By coach Dolph Clinton
Pomfret 58 Rivers 55
Rivers is twice-bitten, twice shy. The Pomfret boys took a page from the girls and beats Rivers on game-winning three-point field goal.
The game didn’t have the same import as the game between Pomfret and Rivers eight days ago, but nonetheless the result was the same: a semi-desperation three pointer to win the game. The Rivers’ boys came into the gym with an 11-7 record and fighting for a playoff berth in the New England Class C Playoffs. The Pomfret boys were coming off an emotional win having won three of their last four. Rivers got off to a good start as Pomfret came out flat. Turnovers and poor shooting saw Pomfret struggle to score and Rivers moved the ball well and hit some shots to jump out to a 15 – 5 lead. It went back and forth for a while but Pomfret finally began to play good team ball and dug in to go on a 27 – 12 run to end the first half and take a 32 – 27 lead into the locker room. Pomfret began the second half playing some of the best defense all year. Though others played well, Miller Staten and Cameron Bell served as the anchors as they played strong help, while keeping their own “man” in check. Bell even stepped into the passing lane, and went coast to coast and threw down an emphatic dunk as the defender who challenged him fouled him for the three-point play. The good defense continued and Pomfret jumped out to a 12-point lead. With Rivers behind, former Pomfret recruit John Bullik mounted a comeback that saw them first tie the game, and then take a 3-point lead. But a three by Joe Ferro, a floater by Andrew Robinson, and free throws by Robinson, Dan Gagnon and Leo Driscoll help keep Pomfret’s offense going. Rivers tied it at 55 with 20 seconds left in the game. Rivers played pretty solid defense to prevent our penetration so with just about a second left, Andrew Robinson launched a three-pointer that hit nothing but net. Rivers had about 1.6 to shoot and their desperation three failed. Pomfret wins. Stats: MVP – Cameron Bell – 20 Points, 14 Rebounds, 1 Block and 2 Turnovers; Andrew Robinson – 11 points, 7 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 2 Blocks, 2 Steals, and 4 Turnovers; Leo Driscoll – 13 Points, 4 rebounds, 3 Assists, 1 Steal and 2 turnovers; Miller Staten – 3 Points, 4 Steals, 1 Rebound, 1 Assist and 2 Turnovers; Joe Ferro – 9 Points, 3 Blocks, 2 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 1 Steal and 4 Turnovers; Mike Stickles – 0 Points, 4 Assists, 5 Rebounds, and 5 Turnovers; Dan Gagnon – 2 Points, 1 Assist, 1 Block, and 2 Turnovers.