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By Ron P. Coderre
Teams and individuals played some hard court checkers this week as victories and defeats and great individual scoring performances created shifts in the standings and scoring races. One thing however, remained constant and that was the Woodstock Academy boys’ basketball team, which elbowed its way into the State ranking as voted by the New Haven Register media poll.
The Centaurs of coach Greg Smith remained undefeated at 9-0 as they easily disposed of visiting Norwich Free Academy 48-31 and Griswold 65-34 behind the play of scoring machine Ian Converse, the play making of Chris Lowry and the rebounding of John McGinn.
Woodstock broke into the State Top Ten poll moving into 9th place with 148 points, four points ahead of 10th place Hartford Capital (5-1) and 137 points behind 8th place Ridgefield (5-1). Perennial power Hillhouse (6-0) is 1st with 566 points.
The Pomfret girls are atop the ladies’ race with an 9-1 log, with Putnam (9-3) and Plainfield and Marianapolis both at 7-4 in hot pursuit. The Lady Griffin’s Morgan Olander had a breakout performance in a big 61-17 victory over neighboring Hyde-Woodstock. Olander posted 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists in leading the way in the lopsided win. Her supporting cast of Alyson Chase and Juliette Lawson makes Pomfret a true contender in the prep ranks.
Scoring Races
Woodstock Academy’s Ian Converse pole vaulted into the scoring lead in the boys’ race with an even 22 points per game average. He jumped over last week’s scoring leader Kaevon Safford of Tourtellotte, who is tickling the twine at a 21.6 pace.
The female scoring leaders remained stable with Hyde-Woodstock’s Cashmir Sulcher comfortably in the lead at 19.5 points per game, although she was held to 13 points in the loss to Pomfret. She’s trailed by Plainfield’s Morgan Griffin who is averaging 17.6 markers per contest. Putnam’s Monica Phongsa has emerged as the top three-point shooter, hitting 19 from beyond the arc.
Boys’ Scoring Leaders
Ian Converse, Woodstock 22.0
Kaevon Stafford, Tourtellotte 21.6
Ryan Pambuku, Plainfield 19.0
Dayshon Smith, PSA 18.7
Isaiah Henderson, Pomfret 17.8
Three-Point Leaders:
Jonte Rutty, PSA 40
Ryan Pambuku, Plainfield 27
Dayshon Smith, PSA 24
Eric D’Aguanno, Marianapolis 24
Stephon Edmonds, Marianapolis 21
Devon Willard, Killingly 21
Jemal Mosley, PSA 19
Girls Scoring Leaders:
Cashmir Sulcher, Hyde-Woodstock 19.5
Morgan Griffin, Plainfield 17.6
Janicha Diaz, Hyde-Woodstock 17.0
Ashley Espinosa, Putnam 15.9
Three-Point Leaders:
Monica Phongsa, Putnam 19
Adrienne Lorange, Plainfield 17
Haley Beausoleil, Plainfield 14
Notes
Woodstock’s victory against Norwich Free Academy was never in doubt. At the start of the contest it looked like the visiting Wildcats might not score a point. The score at the end of the first quarter was 17-3 in favor of the Centaurs…One of the most exciting moments of the game came as the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter and the Acad’s Chris Lowry hit a three pointer from half court…The new Eastern Connecticut Conference website appears to be catching on. After only five weeks on line, the site has had almost 800 hits. Visit the site at www.eccathletics.org or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In the Woodstock game against NFA a quick glance at the Woodstock bench it appeared the team had four coaches. The blond haired young man in the suit and tie was actually Will Bourgeois, who is out of action with what appears to be a serious knee injury. Tests are ongoing to determine the extent of the injury…Spotted in the stands at the recent Killingly-Stonington game in Danielson were three members of the Assumption College basketball team. Kevin Donahue, Will Defanti and Akil Hodge were in the stands as Donahue’s brother Jackson Donahue of Stonington poured in 41 points in beating the Redmen…Putnam Science Academy’s 6’ 9” Paul Brooks has been establishing himself as “Mr. Steady” for the Mustangs. He’s quietly been scoring and rebounding in double figures…Despite boasting the newest and nicest gymnasium in the area, Ellis Tech is having a difficult time posting victories this season. The combined record for the men’s and women’s teams is a woeful 1-17…Putnam Science Academy on paper prior to the start of the season looked like world beaters. At this point of the season, the Scientists finally surpassed the .500 mark, at 7-6 with a 59-45 win over Brimmer & May and a two-point squeaker over Redemption Christian 66-64 in contests played in Boston.
RPC’s Super
Conference Standings
Boys:
Woodstock 9-0
Marianapolis 9-2
PSA 7-6
Hyde-Woodstock6-6
Woodstock Acad. 4-8
Tourtellotte 4-5
Killingly 2-10
Putnam 2-6
Ellis Tech 1-8
Girls:
Pomfret School 9-1
Putnam 9-3
Plainfield 7-4
Marianapolis 7-4
Plainfield 5-4
Hyde-Woodstock 5-2
Pomfret 5-4
Tourtellotte 3-6
Killingly 4-6
Ellis Tech 0-9