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caption, page 9:
Celebration
Members of the Putnam Science Academy's tournament-winning basketball team celebrate. Courtesy photo.
Boys' roundup
Mustangs
win prep
tourney
By Joe West
PUTNAM — The Putnam Science Academy Mustangs won the Northeast Prep Tournament Championship after beating the Hyde School, 60-48, in the tournament finals at PSA Gymnasium Feb. 25.
Zaquan Nelson (Waterbury) won the tournament MVP honors. Nelson finished with 16 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in the championship game. Senior forward Anthony Henry (Danbury) was the game’s leading scorer as he finished with 23 point to go along with 12 boards and four steals.
Senior center Wilson Arob, also put up double-figures in points for PSA with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals while freshman forward Tyree Robinson added 7 points and six boards.
”Not only is it great for the basketball program but the school as well,” said PSA boys’ coach Tom Espinosa. “It’s the second time we are able to capture a championship here at PSA.”
“We wanted this from the start of the season,” said Espinosa. “We wanted to be playing for a championship on the last day of the season.’”
Mustangs led most of the first half as Hyde couldn’t find the answer to put points up in the period as they went into the locker room down 25-16.
Second half was much different for Hyde as they doubled their first half points by putting up 32. Hyde made an impressive run late in the game but the Mustangs were just too strong and talented as they held on for the win.
In the first round of the Northeast Prep Tournament the Mustangs held on for the win over Post University 65-63. Nelson had 22 points and freshman Tyree Robinson added 15 points and 14 rebounds. Wilson Arob put on 14 points and 9 rebounds.
Post’s 3 point shot at the buzzer fell short as time expired.
PSA’s Henry and Robinson made the all tournament team along with Hyde’s Jalen Hill.
Pomfret School
Feb. 26: Wrestling at Nationals
Four wrestlers represented Pomfret at the National Prep Wrestling Tournament. Tomo Okamoto, Devon MarcAurele, Elliot Granoff, and RJ LaBeef all won their first-round match. Devon and RJ both went on to win their next matches to advance to the quarterfinals, while Tomo and Elliot dropped to the consolations.
In the consolations, Tomo lost a close match by the score of 3-2, and Elliot avenged a previous loss (from the New Englands) by pinning his opponent. Elliot then lost in the match that would have put him into the round of 12.
Devon and RJ both lost in the quarterfinals, and Devon ended up losing in the consolations, but he made it to the round of 12, just missing being a place-winner. RJ won in the round of 12, and even though he could not advance after that, he became a National Prep all-American by placing 8th in the tournament.
All four represented Pomfret well at this very difficult tournament.