After a bit of a rough time around the Thanksgiving holiday, the Woodstock Gold prep basketball team got back on track this past weekend. The Centaurs broke a three-game losing streak with a 90-76 win over Worcester Academy Dec. 4. They followed that up with a 93-45 win over Hoosac School Dec. 5. The wins raised the Centaurs’ record to 7-3.
Coach Jacque Rivera said: “If we had won three in a row, I would still want to win just as bad. I think it’s good to get a win in the column but it’s about how you get a win. I think we did some things in our losses that is not true to who we are. We played with more aggression (Saturday), we play better at home, but we just want to get this thing going in the right direction.”
The Gold had lost to Hargrave Military Academy and Mt. Zion Prep at the National Prep Showcase tournament prior to the Thanksgiving holiday break and then to South Kent School on the road Dec. 1 by double digits.
It can be a bumpy road for programs as the Thanksgiving break is followed closely by the Christmas break, which for the Centaurs, will begin after its games on Dec. 18. “It’s tough to keep consistency, but more importantly, it’s tough to figure out how hard you have to play. We practice every day but it still doesn’t seem like how hard we have to play. We play a unique style, you have to adjust during a game with the referees, so no matter how much we practice or breaks there are, we have to have a level of grit and I think we had that (against Worcester Academy),” Rivera said.
The Hilltoppers (1-1) kept it close in the first half. The Centaurs’ biggest lead came late when Travonne Jackson (13 points) and Jamine Charles hit baskets to put Woodstock up, 42-34, with 32 seconds left.
But Kayvaun Mulready had a potential momentum-turning play at the buzzer when he hit a 3-pointer from near halfcourt to reduce the deficit to five points.
Woodstock held on to that lead until a 7-1 run by Worcester Academy in the second half, reducing the lead to 52-51.
Walter Andrew only finished with six points, but all of those came within just over two minutes and it ignited a 19-3 Woodstock run. That put the Centaurs up, 71-54, with 10 minutes, 10 seconds to play.
“I thought that was really great,” Rivera said. “Walter is kind of buying into what we need him to do. Walter has to be our muscle. If you look at our roster, he is the only kid who has played New England prep school basketball. He gets the ruggedness of this. We need him to do that, need him to do it a certain way and we need him to do it exactly what he did (on Saturday); drive it downhill, be aggressive defensively, rebound from the guard spot because he understands it doesn’t have to be pretty.”
The Hilltoppers did get back within six, 74-68, five minutes later thanks to the efforts of Tre Norman. The guard finished with 35 points for Worcester Academy, most of those coming from the free throw line where he made 23-of-29.
Tyshawn Trail stymied Worcester’s attempt to rally as he scored six of his team-high 22 points to spark an 8-2 run and give the Centaurs the much-needed win. The guard scored 16 points, all but three in the first half when Woodstock opened a 49-27 lead by the break, to top three Centaurs in double figures. Jayshane Woodard contributed 12 points while Jalen Pitre chipped in with 10.
Centaurs Blue Team Rolls to Win
The Centaurs raised their record to 5-5 with a 58-26 win over Hoosac School Dec. 5. The Centaurs owned a 30-16 lead at the break and limited the visitors to just 10 points in the final 20 minutes.
Chiwer Mayen from Jackson, Mich., led the Blue squad with 12 points while Antigua’s Jaden Andrews added 10 in the low-scoring game. The Centaurs split their opening two games last week, beating South Kent on the road Dec. 1.
But things were a bit more difficult Dec. 3 when it lost to Speights Academy in the Zero Gravity tournament played in Boston.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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There was a good lesson to be learned for PSA Prep opponents this past week, and quite simply it was this: Don’t talk trash to Barry Evans.
Evans, the Mustangs’ wildly versatile 6-foot-8-inch wing who is headed to St. Bonaventure next year, became just the second player in PSA history to record a triple-double. And it all started with a comment from the Springfield Commonwealth Academy sideline.
“One of their coaches was saying I won’t play at St Bonaventure, that I’m going to sit the bench,” Evans said. “When people talk trash, that just makes me a different person.”
Evans finished with 17 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists to join Rundell Mauge in the exclusive club as the second-ranked Mustangs knocked off the Tornadoes 102-86 on Dec. 1 in a game that was much closer than the final score.
Evans dominated second-half play with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists. No. 2 PSA needed every bit of it to hold off No. 15 SCA, which led early in the second half and stayed within one or two possessions throughout most of the final 20 minutes.
“We have no excuses,” coach Tom Espinosa said after the game. “I’m not happy with our performance as a team and a lot of individuals. We need to put it together a little more.
“But it is what it is, and I give our guys some credit because we finished strong. That’s the bottom line. This is high-level and every team we play is going to have college basketball players. If you don’t show up, you lose. Everyone is coming after us and we’re going to get everyone’s best game. So we need to be ready for that every time.”
DayDay Gittens had 12 points, blocked four shots, and drew four charges for PSA, which also got 26 points, seven rebounds, and six steals from Arturo Dean. Miles Rose played his best game to date as a member of the Mustangs, finishing with 12 points. Desmond Claude added 11 points and four rebounds, while Mouhamed Dioubate chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds.
The Mustangs came out a little sluggish again two nights later but improved to 11-0 nonetheless with a 92-76 win over Bradford Christian Academy at the Zero Gravity Prep Classic in Stoughton, Mass.
Dean had 20 points and five assists, Dioubate posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Evans finished with 17 points and eight boards.
Gittens added a season-high 16 points, and Claude chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds for the Mustangs.
“We didn’t play with a lot of energy again in the first half,” said Espinosa. “But the second half was a different story, we really played much better.”
Things were much better Dec. 5 however. PSA held No. 13 South Kent to just 11 points over the first 15-plus minutes of the game and won going away 100-70. Claude had a season-high 24 points, Dioubate had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Momo Cissé had nine points, seven rebounds, and six blocks. Dean finished with 14 points, while Evans added 13, and Sotirios Nafpliotis chipped in 11.
PSA’s boys’ Varsity team lost back-to-back games last week, their first losses of the season. The Mustangs fell 63-54 to a very good Hamden Hall team on Nov. 29, despite getting 20 points from Tomeu Pieras.
“As a whole group came out of the gates flat,” said coach Nick Schmidt. “We played much harder in the second half, but were unable to completely dig ourselves out of the hole we created in the first half.”
Taylan Cengiz finished with seven points, Pau Amengual six, and Michael Phav, Joey Pezzano, and Ethan Senkyire five apiece for PSA.
It was another tough loss Dec. 2, this time 63-59 on the road to St. Thomas More. Pieras again led the way, this time with 15 points, Senkyire added 14 points and Amengual finished with 11 for the Mustangs (2-2), who led by 10 at the half.
“The focus was the first four minutes, and were we going to extend the lead to 15 or were they going to cut it to five,” Schmidt said. “The problem was, they cut it to five and then it was a dog fight from there.
“We hurt ourselves more than anything, which is a good sign. They didn’t beat us, I think we beat ourselves. We still have two games before break and some practices to improve on what we’ve been struggling with the last two games, and then end the semester on a high note.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Francis Emery Marion,
‘Franny'
Francis Emery Marion, “Franny”, the beloved and loving son of Lawrence Joseph Marion and Marjorie Edith (Foote) Marion, passed away at the age of 74 Dec. 2, 2021, in Rocky Hill after a lengthy illness. “We take comfort believing that he has joined his wonderful Dad, Mom, and his gentle Brother John in Heaven.”
Franny was born Oct. 20, 1947, in Putnam, and lived there until his mid-20s.
He leaves his brother Lawrence and sister-in-law Joyce, his brother Robert, his brother Joseph and sister-in-law Patricia, his sister Margaret and brother-in-law Michael, and his brother William. He also leaves his dear nephews Robert Marion, Michael St. Denis, Daniel St. Denis, and his dear niece Lisa St. Denis, and many relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his father Lawrence Joseph Marion in 2001, by his mother Marjorie Marion in 2016, by his brother John Paul Marion in 2009, and by his dear sister-in-law Jacqueline Raszowski Marion in 1998.
Franny was baptized at St Mary’s Church of the Visitation in Putnam on Nov. 9, 1947, by Rev. John Paul Wodarski. He served there as an Altar Boy when the Mass was still celebrated in Latin. He graduated from St. Mary’s School where he was well educated by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit.
He graduated from Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson where he received an excellent education from the Marian Fathers. He was mentored there by Father Casimir Kuckell, M.I.C. who was also a great friend of the entire Lawrence Marion Family. While at Marianapolis, Franny was a high performing student, who also excelled at baseball, basketball, and football. During one baseball game in the Putnam Babe Ruth League, he hit a home run batting left-handed and another home run batting right-handed.
He worked side by side with his family at Marycrest Farm and at other neighborhood farms while he was a teenager. He also built a pitching mound at the farm so that he could do more realistic training to improve his skills as a baseball pitcher. He was a wonderful brother and son who was always level-headed and even-tempered.
He attended Providence College for two years. He then transferred to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisc., so that he could learn the craft of writing well at their highly rated School of Journalism. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in journalism.
Upon his graduation, he was promptly hired by the Mobil Oil Corporation as a writer. He lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. The job enabled him to travel to many different countries of the world. He worked at Mobil for a few years and earned increased job responsibilities. He left Mobil when he was offered a position by Exxon Corporation. He loved his job, and also enjoyed meeting and collaborating with other journalists who were some of his New York City friends and acquaintances. He became president of the Deadline Club of NYC which was the NYC Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He also liked to go on hiking trips with friends in the Sierra Club. He enjoyed music, including playing his guitar and singing.
Then, while still a young man, he was stricken with a serious illness that precluded him from ever being able to work a regular full-time job again. He became interested in health foods and a simple lifestyle. He founded the Natural Food Institute and wrote a number of books and pamphlets. Some of these were Wonder Crops, Alternative Electricity, Powerhouse Plants, and how to construct a Sun King Food Dryer. Franny was a handsome, well built, amiable giant in his younger days. Standing 6-foot, 4-inches, his years of hard farm work had made him exceptionally strong. He was unusually kind, soft spoken, and gentle. He achieved a lot in the relatively short number of years of good health he had prior to his illness. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the many sincerely helpful staff members at the various hospitals and nursing homes who provided loving and compassionate care to Fran during his many years of disability.
Visitation is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorial Masses may be offered in memory of Francis. Donations: Marianapolis Preparatory School, 26 Chase Road, Thompson, CT 06277.
Maureen G. Morley
EASTFORD — Maureen G. Morley, longtime resident of Eastford, died Nov. 14, 2021. Maureen was born July 28, 1942, raised in Glen Rock, N.J., and was a graduate of Connecticut College.
She moved to Eastford with her husband John in 1977.
Maureen spent many years serving the Eastford community through the Library Board, PTO, The Woodstock Academy Board of Trustees, and more. She later worked at the UConn Co-Op for numerous years.
Maureen leaves behind daughters Jennifer (Gabriel) and Elizabeth (Damon); grandchildren Esther and Ryan; brother James Gall (Linda) of Walden, N.Y., and many caring friends and neighbors.
Blanche M. Currier
PUTNAM — Blanche M. (Seyford) Currier, 91, of Putnam, died Nov. 21, 2021.
Blanche was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Ernest York Seyford and Jane Farrell Seyford on Dec. 12, 1929. She married Earl D. Currier on Feb. 7, 1948, in Brooklyn, N.Y. They were married for 52 years before his passing in 2000.
Blanche had a great sense of humor and was always fun to be around. She enjoyed traveling with her daughter Kathy and granddaughter Jayne and was ready to go anywhere with a minute’s notice. One of her favorite places to visit was her grandson Brandon’s house in North Carolina. She also enjoyed going to the movies, out to eat, shopping, music, family parties and dancing. Blanche loved spending time with friends in Florida at her winter home in Zephyrhills and was so happy to have family visit her there so she could bring them to Disney World and other Florida attractions to help make their vacation special.
She leaves daughters, Kathy Carter (Keen) of Putnam and Judith Hendrickson of Brooklyn, Conn.; grandchildren (who affectionately called her Bamie), Jayne LeDuc (Paul), Brandon Carter (Erica), Jeremy Hendrickson (Tanya), Eric Hendrickson and Jason Joslin; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Carter, Kayelei Carter, Summer Carter, Lila Hendrickson, Brody Hendrickson, Amelia Hendrickson, Briar Hendrickson and Eliza Joslin; nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, Blanche was predeceased by her brother Ernest F. Seyford and her grandson, Christopher P. Carter.
The Funeral Services were private. Donations: Alzheimer’s Association. (www.alz.org). Shaw Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
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The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) announces the 13 winning photos gracing its 2022 calendar. TLGV’s “Explore the Last Green Valley” calendar for 2022 features magnificent photos of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor.
The coveted cover shot was taken by Sandee Harraden of Woodstock and is called “Ruby-throated Hummingbird.” The photo shows a hummingbird drinking nectar as it twists its body to get the perfect angle for the nectar.
This is the second TLGV calendar cover Harraden has won since 2015. “I’ve always been interested in birds,” Harraden said. “But I also enjoy watching the bird behavior. Learning photography, I can stop the moment and get all the details to understand what I am seeing.”
Harraden fell in love with photography 11 years ago. She is always trying to learn more about photography while hoping to inspire others to love nature through photography. In addition to the cover photo, Harraden’s “Northern Cardinal with His Fledgling” is the April photo. Harraden’s images are the results of hours of watching the birds with her camera at the ready and positioning herself as the light moves.
“I think The Last Green Valley is a wonderful organization and it also inspires people to enjoy the outdoors and brings awareness and helps people to connect to nature. I think that’s really important for people to have that inspiration.”
The other winning photos are: “A Sparkling Day,” by Ulla Britt Roemer of Pomfret; “Ponemah,” by Nick Velles of Franklin; “Chasing Waterfalls,” “Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut…” and “Let it Go,” by Sarah L. Hamby of Danielson; “Calves on a Sunny Day,” by Joseph Orefice of Union; “European Praying Mantis at Lavender Farm,” and “Monarch with Sunflowers,” by Heather Brunelle of Lebanon; “Sunset at Blue Slope,” by Susan Trapp of N. Stonington; “Fall from Above,” by Ryan Heilemann of Brooklyn; and “Ready to go Kayaking at Hopeville Pond” by Gail Miller of N. Franklin.
The more than 65 entries went through a blind review. Additional smaller photos are used throughout the calendar. The 2022 calendar is also filled with interesting tidbits about the natural and cultural history of the National Heritage Corridor. “This year the entries were very high quality,” said Lois Bruinooge, executive director of TLGV. “It was difficult to choose only 13. We’re excited by the stunning photos in the 2022 calendar.” The calendar is on sale for $15. You can order one in the gift shop at TheLastGreenValley.org or call the TLGV Office at 860-774-3300 to order a copy. All proceeds support The Last Green Valley’s programs to protect our natural and historic resources. TLGV is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
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