Putnam girls’ and boys’ teams take QVJC crowns

PUTNAM — Putnam Middle School’s Varsity basketball teams pulled off the doubleheader sweep Feb. 12, as both the girls’ and boys’ teams won their respective QVJC Tournament titles.
The girls’ team, coached by Ashley Burke, defeated The Canterbury School 25-18 for its first championship since 2016.
Peyton Rodriguez scored seven points to lead the Wolfpack, which finished the season 10-2. Nyla Magalhaes, Ella Adams, and Mary Battersby scored six points apiece in the win.
Other members of the championship team include: Avery Meyette, Laura Coderre, Angelina Cardoso, Amber Johnson, Raegan Healey, Makaila Roy, and Bethany Mayo.
The boys’ team, meanwhile, cruised to a 75-47 victory over Parish Hill to finish the season undefeated at 14-0 and claim its first tourney championship in five years.
TJ Espinosa scored a game-high 35 points and Camden Kell added 24 in the win.
Other members of the Wolfpack, who are coached by Derek Coderre, include: Marcus Riendeau, Theo Buzanoski, Caleb LaFrance, Griffin Fjellman, Sam Jackel, Owen LePage, Wesley Schulman, Liam Purdon, Joel Bennett, Noah Pelletier, Dominic Kostovski, and Bryce Espinosa.

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DKH forms 'Heart Group,'
expands cardiac care services
PUTNAM — Day Kimball Health (DKH) is expanding its cardiology services with the formation of the Heart Group and the addition of Cardiologist Richard Soucier, M.D. With a dedication to patient-centered care and a collaborative approach, the Heart Group focuses on the heart health of patients providing comprehensive cardiovascular services from preventative care to advanced cardiac procedures.
Joining DKH from Trinity Health of New England, Dr. Soucier brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Heart Group, along with DKH’s cardiologists John Modica, M.D., Tracy Cormier, APRN, and Andrea Meyer, PA-C. Dr. Soucier is board-certified in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. Earning his medical degree at Dartmouth Medical School, he completed a residency and fellowship in cardiovascular diseases and a second residency in internal medicine at the University of Connecticut, where he also served as a postdoctoral fellow in cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Soucier also served as an assistant professor and director of heart failure population health at Yale School of Medicine.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Soucier to our cardiology team. His skills, commitment to excellence, and clinical leadership perfectly align with the caliber of cardiovascular care that we provide to the community, and his experience will be invaluable as we expand cardiovascular services in northeast Connecticut,” said R. Kyle Kramer, chief executive officer, Day Kimball Health. “The introduction of the Heart Group reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the evolving needs of this community, recognizes heart disease as a leading cause of death within our region and beyond, and underscores the importance of DKH in providing access to critical healthcare and ‘heart care’ in our region.”
“I am thrilled to be part of the remarkable developments in cardiology services at Day Kimball Health. Working with a seasoned and collaborative care team committed to cardiovascular excellence is my passion,” said Dr. Soucier. “As we introduce the Heart Group, our goal is to grow and enhance heart health services in Northeast Connecticut while maintaining the level of exceptional care patients here are accustomed to.”
According to the CDC, heart disease is a leading cause of adult mortality in the United States. Nationally, it accounts for one out of every five deaths, annually. In 2019, heart disease was the leading cause of death among Connecticut residents, accounting for nearly 23% of all deaths. “In Northeast Connecticut, DKH’s Heart Group is committed to tackling this issue head-on by building on the work already being done in our cardiology department,” Kramer said. “Through heightened awareness, increased preventative measures, and advanced treatments, we strive to reshape cardiovascular health in our community.”

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Claude blows PSA record out of the water

Everyone thought Jalen Claude had a great game Friday when he made five 3-pointers and finished with 27 points. But it was mere child’s play compared to what he did Saturday.
Claude, a postgrad on Putnam Science Academy’s Elite basketball team, scored a school-record 47 points aided by making a school-record 12 3-pointers in his team’s 121-112 win over The Newman School.
“During warmups, I hit my first couple of 3s, then I was getting warmed up in my form shooting and I knew it was probably going to be a good game,” Claude said. “Not this good though. Today was different. Every shot was going in, so I was just like, ‘All right, let’s do this.’
“It was just all confidence, really. After the first five went in, I was just going to keep shooting and keep going until I completely start missing. But I just kept making them, so I just kept shooting.”
Claude, in his third season with the Elite team, was incredibly efficient, missing only four shots in the entire game (he went 12-for-15 on 3s and made seven in a row at one point, 4-for-5 on 2s, and 3-for-3 at the foul line). He admitted that a couple of his attempts were more of a “heat check” than anything, but the reality is that none of his shots were forced.
“The most impressive thing to me was how in the flow of the game every shot was,” coach Nick Schmidt said. “He had 47 and his teammates loved playing with him. I think that shows he wasn’t taking bad shots.”
Said teammate Carter Mungin, who dominated play inside and finished with 23 points: “I’m not mad at any shots he takes because I watch him make shots from everywhere every day. When he shoots, I always think it’s going in…every single time. It’s like playing with (Steph) Curry. What he did (Saturday) was insane. I was speechless watching that as a teammate on the court.”
The previous marks were set at the PSA Prep level, with Rundell Mauge scoring 44 in a game in 2008, and Ta’Quan Zimmerman hitting nine 3s back in 2010.
Claude had 21 points in the first half, when he hit five 3s. He then opened the second half by draining four straight from deep, the last of which was an and-1 on which he got fouled and was knocked to the ground. After being helped to his feet by his teammates, a sheepish smile came across Claude’s face as he walked to the foul line.
He made the free throw, then a 2-point field goal, three more 3s, and a pair of foul shots. He had the ball in his hands on the game’s final possession but with PSA holding the insurmountable advantage, he just dribbled out the clock.
“I wanted to shoot it,” he said with a laugh, “but I did the right thing. It’s fine. Forty-seven is pretty good, too.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

Jalen Claude. Tom Netzer photo.