Recap
Wins & losses
for PSA
Aden Edebali scored a career-high 17 points on Feb. 17, leading Putnam Science Academy girls’ Prep Red team to a 67-59 win over Greens Farms Academy.
Tamara Ciric added 15 points, Alina Abdulina chipped in with 11 points, and Maria Escobar finished with 10 points in the season-opener for the Mustangs.
It was a rougher week on the boys’ side however. PSA’s Elite team suffered a pair of losses to St. Thomas More on consecutive days, with the second happening in excruciating fashion. After losing handily (76-62) on Feb. 19, the Mustangs were ready to play Feb. 20. They built a halftime lead before falling behind by 10 in the second half, only to mount a comeback that fell short when they turned the ball over inside of five seconds in a tie ball game, then could only watch in disbelief as St. Thomas More took advantage and scored off the ensuing out-of-bounds play as time expired on an 83-81 loss.
Sean McCarthy was outstanding, finishing with had 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals for PSA (3-3), while Alex Vertus ended with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. LJ Hicks had 13 points, and Edwin Linares had 14 rebounds and five blocks in that loss.
Vertus had 25 points, McCarthy 15, and Linares finished with six rebounds and three blocks in the Feb. 19 night game.
PSA’s Varsity team split a pair of games, first trouncing Plainfield’s freshman team 62-11 Feb. 17 behind 14 points from both Jorge Trueba-Hernandez and Jose Guerrero. Nathan Couhe added 10 points for the Mustangs, who scored the first 14 points of the game, and led 36-5 at halftime.
They lost to Greens Farms Academy 62-47 Feb. 20, as Trueba-Hernandez was the only player to score in double figures, ending with 16 points. Guerrero and Erwan Menguy both had nine points for the Mustangs (3-3).
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Favreau leads Centaurs
hockey to a pair of wins
The busiest week of the season for the Woodstock Academy boys’ hockey team was a successful one.
The Centaurs downed Tri-Town Feb. 19, 2-1 in overtime, and followed that up with a 3-1 win over the Northeastern Cooperative Feb. 20.
The Centaurs were supposed to play Xavier on President’s Day as well, but that game was postponed due to pandemic protocol and it’s uncertain as to whether it will be made up.
That cancellation had Woodstock Academy coach Kevin Bisson nervous about the other two games later in the week with weather playing a role.
“All day (Friday), I was waiting for a text or a call saying that (the game) wasn’t going to happen. The first one was a COVID-19 issue, then it was the weather. It was seeming as if everything was working against us so once the kids were on the bus (to Enfield to play Tri-Town) for the long, slow ride, it just felt good to get to the rink, play a game, and let them feel the joy that a hockey experience can do for you,” said Bisson.
It’s always nice when that experience culminates in a win, especially twice in a row.
Senior Guerin Favreau delivered the win against Tri-Town. He scored with 1 minute, 27 seconds left in overtime to make it a happy bus ride home.
The Centaurs had been stopped by the Tri-Town defense which was beginning the transition to the neutral zone when Woodstock Academy got a fortuitous turnover.
Favreau got the puck just over the blue line and used Tri-Town’s own defense to screen their goalie and his shot deflected off of a defenseman to change the trajectory slightly which resulted in the puck finding the net on the goalie’s glove side.
The Centaurs first goal came from Favreau’s line mate, sophomore Jeter Darigan.
Darigan found a seam in the defense and Favreau found him with the pass for the first period goal.
The goal gave the Centaurs a 1-0 lead.
Tri-Town tied it in the second period to set up Favreau’s game winner in the extra period.
Favreau also played a key role in the win over Northeastern. His goal late in the second period tied the game at one.
The Centaurs took the lead for good with 5:58 left in the third period when Nick Chubbuck scored off an assist from defenseman Alex Wojciechowski.
The insurance came just 2 ½ minutes later when Chubbuck scored again off an assist from Zach Girard.
Senior Colin Liscomb picked up the win Feb. 19 and sophomore Kaiden Keddy was a winner in his first varsity start in net Feb. 20.
The busy times are just about over for the Centaurs.
Unless some other games are found, they have just two remaining including a game on the road Feb. 26 at the Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks cooperative and a game on March 6 at home in Norwich against Rocky Hill.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.
caption:
Underway
The Woodstock Academy boys’ basketball team got its season underway last week. Photo by Madison Millar.
Keep the pipeline going.
That’s what the Woodstock Academy boys’ basketball program is hoping to do.
The Centaurs lost five players from a year ago, but return a team to the floor that coach Marty Hart is pretty confident with.
“There is a lot to love about this team coming back,” Hart said. “There are finesse guys, tough guys, shooters, defenders, rebounders. It’s a very balanced team. We have experience, thankfully, bringing guys back from last year.”
The Centaurs finished with an 8-14 mark a year ago.
Gone is Aidan Morin who was second on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) and was one of the top rebounders. Also on the graduate list was Grayson Walley, Efstathios Savvidis and Nick Bedard (6.5 ppg).
It leaves a strong nucleus led by senior guard Logan Talbot.
Talbot came to the team as a junior last year and led the Centaurs with a 16.1 scoring average with 46 3-pointers and 50 steals, both of those totals also topped the team.
“He has got much stronger physically and he has shortened up the motion on his shot which has made it a lot quicker,” Hart said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him in live action. I think he is in tremendous position to have a really strong year.”
The Centaurs also return junior Ethan Davis.
The 6-foot, 1-inch junior stepped into the starting lineup as a sophomore a year ago and became a factor both off the glass and as a facilitator.
Davis tied Morin for the team lead in rebounds with 117 and was tops on the team in assists with 38 in addition to his 6.7 point per game scoring average.
“He’s a tough guy,” Hart said.
“He’s a great rebounder and excellent leader, too. We’re counting on him to be an upperclassman now.”
In addition to Davis’ leadership qualities, Hart has also been impressed with senior Jacob Hernandez.
The 5-7 guard has taken the team under his wing after missing last season with a torn labrum suffered in football. Hernandez still served as the team manager a year ago showing his dedication to the program.
“His energy and vocal leadership in practice has made him a nice presence,” Hart said.
The Centaurs also have 6-2 senior Andrew Johnson, a nice inside-outside player who is capable of crashing the boards and also delivering a clutch 3-pointer when needed.
Johnson averaged 7.1 points a game, pulled down 71 rebounds, had 27 assists, 21 steals and 14 3-pointers.
“He is the hardest worker around,” Hart said of Johnson.
Other seniors include 6-4 Liam Blanchflower, 6-1 Daimler Aleksjuks, 5-8 Richie Hickson and 6-6 Dmitrii Zinchenko.
Zinchenko comes up from the JV program and could be a force to be reckoned with in the middle.
“He’s a freight train going to the basket and can shoot outside. He has great touch. He was on JV last year and spent a good, hard summer improving his game. He’s trying to get himself to the college level and he’s capable of that,” Hart said.
Other varsity contributors include juniors Jackson Goetz, Parker Anderson, Huck Flanagan and Hamilton Barnes.
Hart plans to keep the freshmen in the freshmen program and will likely keep most of the sophomores on the JV level for much of the season, leaving the upperclassmen on varsity.
“I just want to give this group an opportunity to play,” Hart said. “They are a tremendous group so I’m thankful they will have the opportunity. They need to pass on the tradition of defense, rebounding and toughness to the next group. I think we’re in position to have a good season albeit up here in the North which is great for us in terms of competition and travel.”
The Centaurs have only a 10-game schedule which began Feb. 20 in Windham.
They are also scheduled to play some regional tournament games in mid-March.
That is if everyone can stay healthy.
“I’ve reminded them each day that it all balances on the tip of a pin,” Hart said. “It’s such a short season that if there is a shutdown, it could take half the season away. It’s on them to be careful. I told them that I have completely quarantined except for basketball. I will not be bringing COVID-19 to the situation and I hope they will be especially careful and grateful for the opportunity too.”
Schedule:
Wed., Feb. 24 at Plainfield, 7 p.m.; Fri. Feb. 26 at Tourtellotte, 5:30; Mon., March 1, vs. Putnam, 7; Tues., March 2 at Killingly, 7; Thurs., March 4 vs. Wheeler, 7; Mon., March 8 vs. Killingly, 7; Wed., March 10 vs. Plainfield, 7; Fri., March 12 vs Griswold, 7.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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Philip Shaffer
PUTNAM — Philip Shaffer, 62, of Woodstock Ave, died Feb. 16, 2021, at home. Born in 1959 in New Haven, he was the son of Robert A. Shaffer of Putnam and the late Irene (Shea) Shaffer.
Philip was a devoted caretaker of his parents for the last 14 years allowing them to live independently. He enjoyed freshwater fishing, camping and cooking for family gatherings.
He leaves his father, Robert Shaffer of Putnam; his three brothers, Robert Shaffer (Lisa) of Situate, R.I., Timothy Shaffer (Deborah) of Griswold, and Christopher Shaffer and his companion Sandy Goyette of Putnam; his sister, Susan Kachur (David) of Putnam; nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his mother Irene (Shea) Shaffer.
Visitation is from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 26 in Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a funeral service at 1 in the funeral home. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Daughters of the Holy Spirit, P.O. Box 419, Putnam, CT 06260.
Gail S. McElroy
POMFRET — Gail (Sutherlund) McElroy, 85, of Blossom Dr., died unexpectedly Jan. 14, 2021 at Day Kimball Hospital, a month shy of her 86th birthday, Gail was a legend in her own time and beloved by family, friends, and many acquaintances. Born in 1935 in W. Roxbury, Mass., she was the daughter of the late John and Sarah (Cameron) Sutherland and one of seven children.
She left the Boston suburb with her childhood sweetheart, love of her life, and, ultimately husband of 59 years, Robert McElroy. They married in 1956; Gail was 19 and Bob 20. After settling in Ridgefield, Bob and Gail raised two sons, Kevin and Kenneth, and became well known for their backyard pool parties, neighborhood gatherings, and small get-togethers.
Gail loved to bring people together, cook elegant meals, and entertain friends and family from near and far. Preparing a multi-course meal for dozens was an art she perfected as she held multiple annual and holiday gatherings, and reunions of her seven and Bob’s 10 siblings, and their spouses, and eventually all their children. Any occasion with Gail in attendance was enriched by her presence and positive personality.
Bob and Gail relocated to Pomfret to be near family and leave the crowded suburbs after Bob retired. After arriving Pomfret and seeking to make friends and get involved in her new community, Gail immediately got involved the Pomfret Senior Association, Pomfret Democratic Town Committee, and in recent years, The Quiet Corner Shouts. She worked for many years as a bookkeeper at the Learning Clinic in Pomfret. Gail quickly developed a reputation as spirted and outspoken. Small in stature, Gail never let that get in the way of her expressing her strongly held opinions, particularly when it came to politics, generally to the amusement of her friends on the Pomfret Democratic Town Committee. Gail was recognized in 2018 with a citation from Governor Malloy for her commitment and service to her community and Town Committee. Not an election went by that she was not engaged by letter writing, phone banking, envelope stuffing, or driving candidates door to door.
The “Energizer Bunny” was a term frequently used to describe Gail as she was always on the move. Frequent trips to Danbury for hair appointments and the Stew Leonard’s pipeline, a regular at Deb’s place in Killingly, Baker’s Dozen in Pomfret, and the Sole Proprietor in Worcester, Gail loved to go out and celebrate and was always dressed and coifed immaculately.
Gail was predeceased by her husband Bob six years ago when her heart was broken. They grew up across the street from each other and were inseparable from an early age. Bob gave Gail the nickname ‘Mrs. Angel Princess’ and treated her just that way. Gail drove Bob to local nursing homes where he played piano, by ear, for the entertainment of residents as he faced early Alzheimer’s disease. After his passing, life without Bob was lacking the spark that made life so meaningful.
She leaves sons, Kevin McElroy (Lynell) of Danbury, and Kenneth McElroy of Pomfret; her sisters, Linda Witkowski and Pamela Soucy, both of Farmington; her brothers-in-law; John McElroy, Richard McElroy, and her grandchildren; Caitlin Moore, Kelly Jean McElroy, Jonathan Sakolsky, and Russell Sakolsky. She was predeceased by her siblings; Robert Sutherland, Jay Sutherland, Patricia Bringham, and Joan Chesney.
There will be a celebration of life, along with a visitation and Mass of Christian Burial, held at a later date when it is safe for family, friends, and acquaintances to come together and celebrate Gail. Donations: NAMI Windham County (National Alliance on Mental Illness), 22 Frank St., Putnam, CT 06260-1710, (860) 928-5947,
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