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By Ron P. Coderre
The 2012 edition of the Putnam Rotary Club “Ray Brousseau” Senior Basketball Game promises to be very exciting with the presence of the area’s 1,000-point scorers plying their wares for the final time as high school hoopsters. Organizing committee chairman Willie Bousquet announced that at least six of the shooting stars have been invited.
The games are scheduled March 21 at the Putnam High School gymnasium. The evening will tip off with the girls’ contest at 6 p.m. and will be followed by the boys’ game at approximately 7:30 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and students. Free refreshments will be offered, compliments of the Rotary Club and its members.
Expected to be on hand for the girls’ game are Melanie Mills of Marianapolis, Hailey Griffin of Plainfield and Megan Gaudreau of Pomfret School, all 1,000-point scorers. Gaudreau is headed to St. Michael’s College in Vermont, while Mills and Griffin are still contemplating their college options. Other seniors who’ve been invited include Christie Austin of Putnam, Liz McKinley of Tourtellotte and Kim Bouten of Plainfield plus many more.
Eddie Kopacz, Tourtellotte’s scoring machine, heads the list of men’s 1,000-pointers who are expected to be on hand. Putnam’s Dino Porcic should feel comfortable on his home court where he recorded many of his 1,000 points. The third 1,000-pointer is Marianapolis’ Kristian Medina. Other shooting stars who’ve been invited include Nigel Syndor and Karchi Nzerem of Marianapolis and Oscar Assie, Keon Scott, Shaun Lawton and others from Putnam Science Academy.
Putnam should be well represented with seniors Brandon Roethel, Gunnar Andersen, Chase Lessard, Caleb Gonyer, Ramon Rogers and Zach Simpson joining Porcic for their final appearance on the Clippers hardwood.
“The fans can expect some exciting basketball in both games. There should be plenty of slam dunks and an abundance of long range bombs. These games are usually high scoring offensive affairs,” said Bousquet.
The teams will represent sponsors BenPe Consulting, Matulaitis Nursing Home, Archambault Insurance Associates and WINY Radio. All participants will receive mementoes of their participation in the game and Most Valuable Players will be selected from each team. The awards are sponsored by The Byrnes Agency.
A competition that’s become an audience favorite over the years, the “Halftime Shootout” sponsored by Citizens National Bank will award cash prizes to shooters making a foul shot, three-point shot and half court bomb.
The “Ray Brousseau” Senior All Star Basketball Game is held in memory of Mr. Brousseau who was a Putnam Rotarian for more than 60 years. The owner of the former Church Clothing Co. in Putnam was a community activist who supported numerous youth activities over the years.
The most recent gesture made by Brousseau and his late wife Violet occurred when a significant gift from the estate was presented to the Putnam Rotary Club. The bequest is now part of the Ray Brousseau Scholarship which is one of a dozen presented to local high school seniors in his memory and the memories of three other late Rotarians, John O’Brien, Leon Archambault and Maurice “Moe” Beaulac.
“It’s an honor for the Putnam Rotary Club to sponsor this game for area high school seniors. It’s one of the many activities our Club does as part of our youth activities mission,” said Cynthia J. Dunne, Rotary president.
Working with Bousquet on the organizing committee are Alan Bates, Debra Hoft, Doug Valentine, Jay Sinha and Elizabeth Bujalski.