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caption, page 9:
And Up
Freshman Johnny Joseph of Putnam Science Academy goes up for two. Photo courtesy of Mehment Temel.
Scientists
fizzle at
season’s end
By Ron P. Coderre
The basketball gods weren’t very kind to Putnam Science Academy this week as the Mustangs’ come-from-behind effort against national power Notre Dame Prep of Fitchburg fell one point short of what would have been the biggest victory in the brief history of hoops on the Putnam campus. To add salt to the wound, the Scientists were upset on their home court by neighboring Hyde School in the Northeast Prep Tournament, which they hosted.
Playing in front of an enthusiastic full house in its tiny gym, PSA showed plenty of heart as it rebounded from a nine point, 43-34 halftime deficit before falling at the very last second to Notre Dame 88-87. Earlier in the season, coach Tom Espinosa’s charges blew a 15-point halftime advantage in Fitchburg to these same Prepsters.
“This loss is very tough, especially since they are one of the best teams in the country and highly respected. I guess it’s somewhat of an indication as to just how far our program has progressed when we come within an eyelash of victory,” said Espinosa.
With 15 minutes remaining and trailing by seven, 59-52, the Scientists asserted themselves, going on a 16-7 run and closing the gap to two points, 68-66 in a five-minute span. In the final 10 minutes the game was knotted on six different occasions.
The ultimate difference in the outcome occurred with 2.4 seconds remaining when ND’s Mandell Thomas followed a missed shot on an inbounds play under the Prep basket with the put back that was the difference between victory and defeat for PSA. A desperation half court shot by the Scientists Shaun Lawton clanged off the back of the rim, ending the game and sending the packed house and both teams home.
Johnny Joseph, PSA’s speedy guard, was outstanding turning in a team-high 22 points, which included six long-range three-pointers. During the crucial final 10 minutes Joseph tallied 14 points, including four three-pointers that kept the team and the crowd pumped up.
All five Mustang starters finished in double figures. Shaun Lawton contributed 16 points to go along with five rebounds and seven assists. Oscar Assie and Dayshon Smith had 14 points apiece. While Keon Scott, who was strapped with three fouls had 12 points and Tyree Robinson was strong off the bench contributing nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while also playing with three fouls.
“I told the team at halftime that they needed to protect the ball more and cut down on turnovers. We also wanted to close out their big men in the high post and get back on defense more quickly,” said Espinosa about the second half turnaround.
In the final 20 minutes, PSA turned the ball over only twice as compared to 13 times in the first half. They also shot the ball better after halftime.
Thomas led the scoring for Notre Dame with 21 points. He was joined in double figures by Sam Cassell, the son of the former NBA star by the same name, who had 18 markers, many coming on drives to the hoop at crucial junctures in the contest. University of Pittsburgh bound Steven Adams was held to six points as the Scientists inside players did a good job on boxing him off the boards.
PSA Disappoints in Northeast Prep Tourney
In what was probably the biggest rally in Hyde basketball history and the biggest disappointment in Putnam Science Academy history, the Wolfpack from Woodstock clawed back from a 29-point deficit in the second half to emerge victorious 65-63 over the host Mustangs in the first round of the Northeast Prep Tournament.
Trailing 39-24 at halftime, Hype outscored PSA 41-24 in the second half putting them in the championship game against Kimball Union of Vermont. The winning Wolfpack placed four players in double digits, led by Robert Lewis with 20 points. He was joined by Jahvaney Beckford (11), Christian Ejiga (15) and Nasir Ibraham (11), while Chad Bryant rounded out the scoring with eight points.
Joseph was the Scientists top scorer turning in his second consecutive 22-point performance. Shaun Lawton added 10 and Dayshon Smith 12 for the losing Mustangs.
On a positive note, PSA closed out the season at 20-9, winning the consolation game of the tourney 76-55 over Christian Heritage. Assie (16), Scott (14) and Joseph (12) led the way for the Scientists.