DUDLEY — The Dean’s High Honors and the Dean’s List for Nichols College for the fall semester of 2013 include these local students:

Brieanna Baron of Woodstock, Dean’s High Honors.

Nicole Boyle of Woodstock, Dean’s High Honors.

Stephen Chlapowski of Thompson,  Dean’s High Honors.

Sarah Corrado of Quinebaug, Dean’s High Honors.

Cody Gondyke of Eastford, Dean’s High Honors.

Abby Gould of Thompson,  Dean’s High Honors.

Paul Healy of Woodstock, Dean’s List.

Daniel Jezierski of Thompson, Dean’s High Honors.

Kaitlyn Larrabee of Gloucester, RI, Dean’s High Honors.

Casey LeBlanc of Woodstock, Dean’s High Honors.

Emily Looby of Woodstock, Dean’s High Honors.

Jamie Mason of North Grosvenordale, Dean’s List.

Kerri Nadeau of Chepachet, Dean’s High Honors.

Kevin Poitras of North Grosvenordale, Dean’s High Honors.

Jacob Roy of North Grosvenordale,Dean’s High Honors.

Jeffrey Schmeltz of Pascoag, Dean’s List.

Tyler Sonier of Pascoag, Dean’s High Honors.

Ian Stadig of Putnam, Dean’s High Honors.

Ian Sullivan of North Grosvenordale, Dean’s High Honors.

John Sullivan of North Grosvenordale,Dean’s High Honors.

Katelyn Tupaj of North Grosvenordale, Dean’s High Honors.

 

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By Ron P. Coderre

Thanks to the Putnam Rotary Club, local high school senior basketball players enjoyed the opportunity to play one more game before closing the book on their on their schoolboy and schoolgirl hardwood careers. 

The Ray Brousseau Senior All Star Shootout, played at Putnam High School on Tuesday, March 25 featured a pair of exciting games that featured the females in the opening contest and the boys in the nightcap.  Both contests were broadcast live on WINY Radio, adding luster to the evening.  WINY Sports Director John Wilbur provided the play-by-play, accompanied by Putnam Recreation Director Willie Bousquet as the color analyst.

The girls’ contest was won by the team sponsored by Archambault Insurance 48-38 over Benpe Consulting.  The Putnam Savings Bank team slipped past the WINY Radio squad in the men’s contest 91-86.

Low-scoring Affair for Females

The lidlifter of the evening witnessed a low scoring affair as it took the ladies sometime to get warmed up and into the action.  Putnam High School standout Mackenzie Kaylor playing for the final time on her home court led the Archambault Insurance team to a 48-38, 10-point victory as she tallied 22 points.   Included in her total were three long range bombs from beyond the arc.

Shelby Grauer of Holy Family Academy turned in a great floor game as she was solid on defense, while also tossing in 19 big points for the winners.  Putnam’s Cynthia Briere controlled the boards for the winners while adding six points.

A late scoring surge by Benpe consulting paced by Windham Tech’s Kara Thibodeau, who was the game high scorer with 23 points, fell short as the Benpe squad outscored Archambault 28-24 in the second half.  Thibodeau took control in the second half scoring 18 points but her effort fell just shy.

Late WINY Rush Falls Short

Killingly High School’s Nick Hewitt put up 14 first half points and Woodstock Academy’s John McGinn controlled the boards for Putnam Savings Bank as the Bankers ran up a 47-32 halftime advantage propelling them to the 91-86 victory.

The second half belonged to WINY and Plainfield High School senior Ryan Pambuku, who was the game high scorer with 33 points, 29 of his markers coming after intermission.  His effort was not enough as the winning Putnam Bank team held on with a total team effort that saw four players reach double figures.

The Bankers were led by Hewitt who finished with 25 points, including six three pointers.  McGinn finished with 10 points, while his teammate from Woodstock Will Bourgeois had 11.  Plainfield’s Will Robinson, who sealed the victory for the winners with a pair of key baskets in the final minute, finished with 18 points.  Tourtellotte’s Ryan Beaulieu added eight points in the win, which saw every player from Putnam Bank hit the scoring column.

Pambuku, who dominated the final 20 minutes, received offensive support from a pair of Tourtellotte Tigers.  Kaevon Safford finished with 22 points and Shawn Houle who hit a pair of treys in the waning minutes, tallied 14 points.  Big Harrison “Harry” Padula was a bull on the boards grabbing a bushel of rebounds.

All Star Shorts:

Coaches for the girls game were Carla Faucher of Tourtellotte (Benpe) and Mandi Hogan of Putnam (Archambault)…The boys were coached by Putnam Mayor Tony Falzarano of Tourtellotte, assisted by Sean Martel of Marianapolis (WINY) and Brand Kress of Putnam (Putnam Bank)…The games were officiated gratis by members of the Eastern Board of Approved Basketball Official.  Steve Martel and Zach Putnam worked the first game and the three-man crew of Corey Pothier, Bill Bartholic and Martel worked the second game…  Makenzie Kaylor was selected as the Most Valuable Player for the Archambault team, while Kara Thibodeau picked up the honor for the Benpe squad…Thibodeau will continue her hoop career in college, either a Worcester State University or the College of St. Joseph in Hartford…Nick Hewitt was the MVP for the Putnam Bank team and Ryan Pambuku was the unanimous choice for the WINY five…Hewitt will play college football at Mount Ida next season, while Pambuku will continue his basketball career at Post University…Referee Zach Putnam has a baseball claim to fame.  As a player at Tourtellotte he had two hits off of current New York Mets all star pitcher Matt Harvey, who was then a pitcher at Fitch High School…Putnam Rotary Club President Brad Favreau, a former Woodstock Academy three-sport standout, presented all participants with commemorative gifts of the games…Killingly High School’s James Saritelli left the gym $50 richer than when he entered.  He won the halftime shooting contest sponsored by The Citizens National Bank…The entire program was orchestrated by Putnam Recreation Director and Putnam Rotarian Willie Bousquet…The Putnam Rotary Club Ray Brousseau All Star Shootout has been in existence for more than 25 consecutive years.

 

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By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to Rollie Johnson of Putnam.  The father of a number of former Putnam High School athletes, Rollie was a pretty fair golfer himself.  Today he can be seen on many mornings enjoying breakfast at Main St. Grill with his wife Alma.  Rollie blew out another candle on the cake on Thursday, March 27.

Last year around this time Dayshon ‘Scoochie’ Smith was relishing in the publicity he was receiving for being named the Northeast Prep Tournament Most Valuable Player and for the fact that he had signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Dayton.

If you’re one of the millions across the country who are engulfed in March Madness you’re probably becoming more familiar with the name ‘Scoochie’ Smith as it appears to be a favorite of the courtside television announcers and the studio analyst who dissect every aspect of every game.

Smith and the University of Dayton Flyers have become the darlings of the nation as they’ve come from their underdog role to advance to the NCAA Elite 8.  The Flyers opened tourney play by ousting Ohio State University.  This was a huge victory not only because Ohio State was a decided favorite but adding spice to the win is the fact that the schools are located only 30 mile apart.

The next foe to fall in this David versus Goliath scenario was the mighty Syracuse University Orange.  In the Round of 16 the Flyers flew past a much bigger but slower Stanford Cardinal, winning by 10 points.

Smith has been steady throughout the tournament as it appears that coach Archie Miller has nurtured his freshman guard in preparing him for a bigger role in each game.  ‘Scoochie” scored two key hoops in the win over Syracuse and in the nationally televised contest against Stanford, Smith ran the offense with the skill of a veteran.  In addition, he hit a big three-pointer and just when it seemed the Cardinal was making a run, Smith hit a driving layup to stem the tide.

The Flyers, who play in the Atlantic-10 Conference, have a record of 26-10.  Entering the South Region championship game in Memphis, Tenn., as 10-point underdogs they go against another tough opponent in the 35-2 University of Florida and coach Billy Donovan.  At this point being the underdog appears to be a role that the Flyers are enjoying.  (The Flyers put up a tough fight but were beaten by the Gators 62-52.)

Three years ago Smith was faced with an important decision, where to play high school basketball.  A native of Bronx, N.Y., his parochial high school, Brother Rice closed leaving ‘Scoochie’ searching for a school to call home.  Fortunately for ‘Scoochie’ and Putnam Science Academy coach Tom Espinosa, Smith opted to come to Putnam and join the Mustangs.  Observing where he is today it appears he made the correct decision.

During his two years on the Maple St. campus Smith led the Mustangs to the best single season record in the school’s history, posting a 22-8 log.  (The record was broken by this year’s team, which went 29-5.)  He ended up as the program’s top career scorer and first 1000-point producer with 1010 points.  He also holds the career record in assists with 345 and steals with 205, both areas that he also holds the single season mark with 215 and 103 respectively.

At the moment Smith can also boast of being the school’s most noted graduate.  He’s also helped to put the 06260 zip code on the map.

Centaur Missing for 

Good Reason

The Putnam Rotary Club Ray Brousseau Senior All Star Shootout was missing one of the area’s best players in the boys’ game played on Tuesday, March 25.  Chris Lowry of the Woodstock Academy Centaurs was absent from the game but for a good reason.  According to CIAC rules, players are only allowed to participate in two postseason all star games.  Lowry has been invited to play in the two most prestigious games in the state.

On Sunday, April 13 Lowry will take part in the Jewish Community Center Schoolboy Classic.  He was one of only 24 schoolboy athletes to be selected state wide.  He’ll also be participating in the CIAC State All Star game.

Anyone interested in attending the JCC Schoolboy Classic on April 13, it’s held at the New Haven JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge.  The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start, immediately following the girls’ games that is scheduled to tipoff at 1:30 p.m.  Admission for both contests is $12.

Professional Baseball Update

As Major League spring training is wrapping up and teams and equipment trucks are heading north for the start of the 2014 season the teams are making final moves as they prepare for their Opening Day rosters.  Some players with local ties have been involved in those moves, some staying up in The Show and others going down to the minors.

Area favorite Roger LaFrancois recently e-mailed PTC Sports indicating that spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals has been progressing well toward the start of the season.  LaFrancois, who serves as a minor league hitting instructor for the Redbirds will be spending the season with club’s Class A team in Jupiter, Fla., the spring training home of the parent club Cardinals.

Keeping an eye on the agate page and particularly the Transactions column, it was good to read the news that East Lyme native 39 year old John McDonald earned a spot with the Los Angeles Angels.  McDonald, who last season finished the year with the world champion Boston Red Sox, signed a minor league contract with the Angels but his play in spring training where he batted .321 secured his spot as the team’s utility infielder.  A magician with the glove, it’s a certainty that Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia won’t be sorry that he kept the affable McDonald on his Major League roster.

Former Thompson Little League home run champion Bryan LaHair, who is attempting a return to the Majors following a year in Japan, spent spring training with Terry Francona’s Cleveland Indians.  LaHair was recently reassigned to the minor league camp.  Jesse Hahn, who pitched at Fitch High School, with New York Mets all star Matt Harvey, will start the year with the San Diego Padres top farm team, San Antonio of the Pacific Coast League.  Finally, Dominic Leone of Norwich was reassigned to the minor league camp of the Seattle Mariners.

Remembering An American Legion Legend

People who follow American Legion baseball, especially from 1959 through 1999, will remember the name Lou Ernst.  The backbone of the Niantic American Legion team as an organizer and coach, Ernst 86, died in Florida on Saturday, March 22.

Ernst was known in his day as the dean of American Legion baseball.  He is remembered by those who knew him as “a class act.”  He had high standards for himself and passed those on to all the young men who played for him.  He left baseball and the world as a respected individual who had values that were his trademark.  God speed, Lou Ernst.

Trivia Winner

Congratulations to Romeo Blackmar who was the first person to answer last week’s trivia question.  There were two other people with the correct answer, Ed Dias of Putnam and Ed Hamill of Marco Island, Fla.  The four players to hit home runs in four decades were Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Rickey Henderson and Omar Visquel. 

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day… You know you’re over the hill when you develop a taste for All Bran.

(If you have sports items worthy of publication please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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