WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball team, the top prep team in the nation, according to the National Prep Hoops website, raised its record to 10-0 Dec. 4 with a 105-72 win over Masters School of Simsbury at the Alumni Fieldhouse.
“It’s a good start. We’ve just got to keep pushing. From now on, every game we play, it’s 0-0. It doesn’t matter what our record is. We have to come to play every single game,” said 6-foot, 9-inch center Tre Mitchell.
That’s especially true because of the No. 1 ranking.
“There is a lot of pressure. Coach (Tony Bergeron) tells us every game that we have a target on our backs. We’re going to get every team’s best shot,” added forward Jeameril Wilson.
The Centaurs let Masters stay with them for about the first half of the first half.
Up just 23-17 following a 3-pointer by Benjamin Eke (16 points) for Masters, the Centaurs quickly countered.
Luis Rodriguez (9 points) hit a 3-pointer of his own. After a Masters’ basket, Woodstock Academy scored seven straight points, five by point guard Jakigh Dottin.
The lead continued to grow with Wilson (11 points) taking a nice pass from Dibaji Walker to put the Centaurs up, 46-27, with 3:34 left in the first half.
“Coach Told us to come out strong and step on the gas early and that’s what we did (Monday),” Wilson said.
Woodstock Academy owned a 56-38 lead at the half.
Six early points by Mitchell pushed the lead to 30 points early in the second half.
Mitchell led the Centaurs with 15 points as everyone who played, scored.
“This was just our second game back from break so it was a little sloppy at first, but we played well together. Those who came in off the bench did really well too,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell, ever since he dominated at the National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus prior to the Thanksgiving break, has been getting plenty of looks from colleges.
Mitchell has been offered by the University of Tennessee, Georgia Tech and has also been in contact with schools such as Butler and the University of Pittsburgh.
But Mitchell is not in any haste to make a decision.
“It’s exciting, but I still have another year and a lot of work to do,” Mitchell said.
Blue squad back at .500
Woodstock Academy Blue prep basketball coach Nick DeFeo called Sunday’s 77-69 win over Lincoln Prep “the best win of the year so far”.
“The guys played well. Everyone shot the ball well. We rebounded, finally,” DeFeo said with a laugh.
The victory came in the New England versus Canada tournament at MacDuffie School in Granby, Mass., over the weekend.
E.J. Dambreville led the way with 23 points.
“He’s starting to come around and he’s shooting the ball much better,’ DeFeo said of the forward who recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Florida Southern. “He went through a lull where he wasn’t shooting the ball well from the outside, got in a funk, but he hit 13 3’s in the last three games so he’s opening it up a little bit.”
Center Alex Illic tossed in 21 and Danny Dade contributed 10.
The win forged a split for the Blue team in the tournament.
Dec. 2, the Blue squad fell to Mississauga, 72-67. Dambreville led the Centaurs with 19 points while Gedi Juozapaitis put down 14 points and Rob Kralicek 13.
The split means the Centaurs are back at the break-even mark at 5-5.
“I guess I’m all right with that. It’s where we’re at. You can’t look back. We have to keep moving forward and we have an opportunity in these next few games to get to a winning record,” DeFeo said.
The Woodstock Academy Gold squad was originally scheduled to play Mississauga, but that task fell to the Blue team when the Bill Crothers School failed to show for the tournament.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 963-0000.
Nov. 21
Frances Cote, 89, Sabin Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct.
Nov. 22
Tyler Lane, 24, Providence Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, third-degree assault, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
Arrested on drug charges
STERLING — A Valley View Road man was arrested on crack cocaine charges Nov. 13 after a traffic stop.
Kevin Gibbons, 41, of 139 Valley View Road was charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell.
Members of the Troop D – Quality of Life Task Force conducted a motor vehicle stop on a black Chevrolet Suburban for a motor vehicle violation. During the interview, consent to search the vehicle was requested and denied. K9 Ambrie, a narcotic sniffing Labrador, was then deployed to sniff the exterior of vehicle and alerted to the odor of narcotics. K9 Ambrie was then placed inside the vehicle and alerted to the center console area. Troopers found about 5.3 grams of crack cocaine inside the center console.
Members of the Connecticut State Police are committed to combating drug activity in the “Quiet Corner” and anyone with information regarding the illegal sale of narcotics are encouraged to call the Troop D QLTF anonymous Tips Hotline at 860-779-4950 or message the QLTF Facebook page.
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THOMPSON — Nova Scotia native Sophia Widmeyer ’18, signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Providence College Nov. 10.
Widmeyer, who most frequently plays the shooting guard position, averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists last season playing for the Golden Knights. Last year, Widmeyer played a crucial role in helping the team win the New England Class A Championship.
On her decision to commit to Providence, she said, “I decided to sign with Providence College because of the strong basketball program they have established. My goal coming from Canada was to play at the highest level possible and to play alongside strong talent in a competitive conference. I felt welcome and I thought that I fit in well with the team as well as the coaching staff, and I look forward to what next year brings.” Widmeyer hopes to major in a field of science.
“Playing high-level Division I basketball was a dream of Sophia’s when she came to Marianapolis three years ago,” said Marianapolis girl’s varsity basketball head coach Lauren Moore. “She put in the time to make that dream a reality. Sophia has helped bring our team to the next level with her athleticism and capability to play the 2-5 positions. This year will be no different as our team will rely on Sophia’s ability to shoot the ball, run the floor, and rebound the ball in order to be successful. The difference that Sophia has made on the program at Marianapolis has been immeasurable.”
THOMPSON — Nova Scotia native Sophia Widmeyer ’18, signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Providence College Nov. 10.
Widmeyer, who most frequently plays the shooting guard position, averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists last season playing for the Golden Knights. Last year, Widmeyer played a crucial role in helping the team win the New England Class A Championship.
On her decision to commit to Providence, she said, “I decided to sign with Providence College because of the strong basketball program they have established. My goal coming from Canada was to play at the highest level possible and to play alongside strong talent in a competitive conference. I felt welcome and I thought that I fit in well with the team as well as the coaching staff, and I look forward to what next year brings.” Widmeyer hopes to major in a field of science.
“Playing high-level Division I basketball was a dream of Sophia’s when she came to Marianapolis three years ago,” said Marianapolis girl’s varsity basketball head coach Lauren Moore. “She put in the time to make that dream a reality. Sophia has helped bring our team to the next level with her athleticism and capability to play the 2-5 positions. This year will be no different as our team will rely on Sophia’s ability to shoot the ball, run the floor, and rebound the ball in order to be successful. The difference that Sophia has made on the program at Marianapolis has been immeasurable.”