A big first half spurred on the Woodstock Academy girls basketball team Jan. 2 as it defeated Griswold, 59-30.
The Centaurs scored 34 points in the first half and held the Wolverines to just 11 to cruise to the easy victory.
It was a necessary one after The Academy lost to E.O. Smith in the championship game of the Centaurs Holiday Classic tournament the week before.
“You want to get back on the horse,” said Centaurs’ coach Will Fleeton. “That was a tough game versus a good team so it’s OK to take a loss from E.O. Smith, but everyone competes to win so it was nice to get back on track.”
The Centaurs did a good job getting energy created early.
The Academy put pressure on Griswold (2-3) which created some early buckets in transition.
“We kind of settled in., ran some offensive stuff, and got the bigs plenty of touches and tried to play off of them,” Fleeton said.
Jamie Woods again led the Centaurs (5-2) with 19 points while Heather Converse added 13.
“They were both tough inside with tons of finishes and tons of rebounds. They forced Griswold to make some adjustments which opened up shots for other players,” Fleeton said.
Olivia Perry added eight points for the Centaurs.
“Did I want to be 5-2 at this point? I would like to be 7-0,” Fleeton said. “But it’s nice to get off to a good start. That’s the goal in any high school sport. It’s a long season, a slow start makes things a little tougher. Secure some of these wins, get closer to states right away, and get that burden off your back- maybe we can do some good things.”
Boys fall to Griswold
The Griswold Wolverines made 16-of-20 free throws in the second half, and 21-of-28 in the game, to help produce a 69-57 win over the Centaurs boys basketball team Jan. 2.
The Centaurs reduced a seven-point halftime deficit to four early in the second half on a basket by Baran Ali Sagar.
Logan McGeowan countered that for Griswold with their only successful 3-point shot of the night to make it 40-33.
Aaron Johnson scored two of his 10 points to pull The Academy back within five, but six straight points by the Wolverines extended the visitor’s lead to double digits.
That advantage held for much of the rest of the game.
The Centaurs (1-3) only getting within 10 on a 3-pointer by Chase Anderson (11 points) with 1:46 to play.
The Wolverines (2-1) closed things out by making six of eight from the charity stripe.
Cole Hackett led the Centaurs with 15 points.
Max Gregory and Bryce Mileski paced the Wolverines with 16 while Chris Roddy added 14.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
By Shawn Bates
Boys
The Clippers (4-2) started off 2018 with a convincing win over Ellis Tech Jan. 2.
Putnam was playing Ellis for the second time since their 73-48 win a week ago in the Clipper Classic. And the Clippers knew exactly how to win against their old CSC foe. Tyion Harris dropped 7 pts of his team-high 15 in the first quarter to get the Clippers rolling 14-9 from there on all the Clipper ship had to do was sit back and cruise to a 62-38 for their first away game victory.
The only bright spot for Ellis was the 20 pts that Nico Cummings had to lead the Eagles. For Putnam Colby Livingston 13 pts and Sabastian Ramos for his 6 game was in double digits again with 11. The boys played Griswold Jan. 9 and then Jan. 10. The Clippers will take the long trek down to Groton to face Grasso Tech.
Girls
The Lady Clippers (6-1) hosted the Pirates and new Head Coach David Kohn Jan. 2. The Clippers, just coming off a win against St. Bernards, kept their foot on the gas and seem to be firing on all cylinders with an impressive 54-43 win over their old CSC rival Parish Hill.
Kayleigh Lyons scored 16 pts to lead all Clippers and Ashley Burke had 11 pts. For Parish Hill Hannah Vieria 18 pts and 10 pts from Maria Tomas.
The Lady Clippers are working hard this week with a three-game schedule starting off with Wheeler on Jan. 8 and then games Jan. 9 at home against Griswold and then Grasso away Jan. 11.
There’s a good chance that coach Mandi Hogan can get her team into the CIAC tournament this week if she can collect two wins out of the three games.
Marion ‘Bud’ Hanson,
WWII vet
WOODSTOCK — Marion O. “Bud” Hanson, 90, of County Road, died Dec. 30, 2017, at home. Born in 1927 in Independence, Mo., he was the son of the late Jack and Margaret (Boand) Hanson. He was the husband of the late Doris L. (Green) Hanson whom he married after his enlisted time in the U.S. Navy. They were married for 65 years at the time of her death in 2016.
Eager to serve his country, Bud lied about his age and enlisted early in the U.S. Navy serving as a Yeoman Third Class during WWII. After an initial career working on the railroad in the mid-west, ‘M.O.’ moved to New Jersey becoming a pioneer in the computer programming industry, serving as a systems analyst for General Cable Corporation in New Jersey and Connecticut, and later as a systems consultant internationally for Howmedica and Micrognosis.
They moved to Connecticut in 1974. His favorite pastimes were family camping trips, sing-a-longs with his large extended family, fishing with dear friends, and in his later years, trips to the casino.
He leaves his sons, David Hanson (Theresa) of Yakima, Wash., and Don Hanson (Nancy) of Southbury; his daughters, Carol A. Kasperowitz (Greg) of Long Valley, N.J., Diane Hanson of Pomfret Center, Mary Murray (Jeff) of Brookfield, and Janice Lindsay (Will) of Woodstock; 17 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 6 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery in the spring. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Jacob Oliver Bowen
Jacob Oliver Bowen, born May 3, 1995, died Jan. 3, 2018, in a motor vehicle accident.
He was a hardworking, honest, kind-hearted, humorous young man who always wore a contagious smile. He touched the lives of all who met and knew him. He was a self-employed logger of Red Fern Logging, joined by his Redbone Coonhound, Annie. An over the top work ethic was rare to most but natural to Jacob.
He leaves his parents Richard and Amy Bowen; little brother Caleb; grandmothers Claire Williams ”Ama” and Deb Williams.
A celebration of Jacob’s life will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 14 at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA, in the Meeting House. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Maureen McMerriman
BROOKLYN — Maureen McMerriman, wife of 58 years to Eugene McMerriman and daughter of the late John and Frances (Stelmach) McCormac, died Dec. 30, 2017, at home.
Born in Webster, Maureen grew up in Putnam and raised her family in Norwich before moving to Brooklyn to operate a business with her husband.
Maureen was a gracious individual who always put others before herself. She was quiet, sincere, and never had a bad thing to say about anyone. She was the heart and center of her family. Her integrity, love, and intelligence were known to all who knew her. Her selflessness and kindness will forever be an inspiration to her family.
In her youth, she loved to swim and ice skate and enjoyed sharing her passions with her children. She was a talented seamstress and well-known for her hand-made braided wool rugs. Maureen loved to bake and was famous for her Christmas cookies. When her sons were in their teens, they gave her the nickname, “Colombo”, as she always had many questions for them about their whereabouts. She loved a good bargain and could never pass up a yard sale. Her hobbies included gardening, reading, and following the UConn women’s basketball team.
She leaves her five children and their spouses: Pamela (David) Goldstein, James (Kathy), Timothy (Nancy) and Michael McMerriman and Maureen (William) Roche; grandchildren: Hannah, Kay, Brendan, Sean, Matthew, Michael, Ryan, David, Caitlin, Garrett and great-grandson, Bentley; siblings Kathleen Espinosa, John McCormac, Patricia Lohneiss and Jane Lopresti. . She was predeceased by her infant daughter Mary Frances, infant granddaughter Sarah, daughter-in-law Penny and brother Paul.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 5 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations: St. James “Save Our School” Scholarship Fund. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Patricia Fenner
PUTNAM — Patricia “Pat” Fenner, 76, of Putnam, died suddenly Jan. 1, 2018 at home.
She lived in Woodstock most of her life, moving back to Putnam, six years ago. Pat was a longtime member and very involved with the Living Faith United Methodist Church and was always ready to volunteer her time to help anyone who needed it. She loved to knit and always made sure you never left her house without a full belly, hug and an I love you.
She leaves her children Michael Fenner, Debra Bruce and Daniel Hirst, Mark Fenner and Christen Georgio, Earnest “Earnie” Fenner Jr., and Rebecca Fenner and William Abrams; sisters Kathy Ames (Lenny), Pamela Perry (Edwin) and Muriel Stewartson; grandchildren, Amanda Fenner, Holly Bruce and her boyfriend Raymond Champagne, Mark Tetreault, Heather Tetreault, Kayla Sousa (Jonathan), Madison Abrams and Wolfgang Abrams, Jennifer Benoir; her great-grandchildren, Autumn Cummings, Emma Cummings, Alivia Sousa, and Avory Champagne; dogs Benjamin Cody and Summer Lee. She was predeceased by her husband Earnest “Earnie” Fenner, her parents, Doris and Herbert Keach and her son Eric Fenner.
The Funeral was Jan. 6 at the Living Faith United Methodist Church, Putnam, with burial in the spring in Center Cemetery, Woodstock. Donations: Music Fund of the Living Faith United Methodist Church, 51 Grove St., Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Roberta B. LaPointe
PUTNAM — Roberta (Barlow) LaPointe, born in Westerly, R.I., June 8, 1935, died Dec. 29, 2017.
She was the daughter of Amie (Maxson) and Robert Barlow.
A 1954 graduate of Putnam High School, Roberta worked as a secretary for the law office of Barber & Wheaton, Putnam.
She was the secretary to Connecticut Supreme Court Associate Justice William Perry Barber from 1957 until his retirement in 1977.
She also was the bookkeeper in Gerry’s Western Auto Store, Putnam, as well as office manager at Hull Forest Products in Pomfret.
Most recently employed at ADS in Thompson, CT.
Roberta also was a former Justice of the Peace in Putnam.
She enjoyed traveling, gardening, bicycling.
Roberta leaves her former husband and friend Gerald LaPointe; a son Stephen LaPointe (Donna) of Pomfret Center; a son John LaPointe of Putnam; grandson Dustin Curtis of Pomfret and two great-grandsons; her brother James Barlow of Brandon, Fla.; sisters Ruth Barlow and Madelyn Piette of Freeport, Fla.; Veronica Maxson of Diamond Springs, Colo., Nancy Robert of Tamarac, Fla., Helene Kerns of Pawpaw, WV, and Beatrice Nugent of Richmond, Va.; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by son Michael LaPointe in 1994 and sister Judith Beckwith in 2016.
A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 13 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Gertrude Feldman
N. GROSVENORDALE — Gertrude C. (Olszta) Feldman, 98, died Jan. 3, 2018, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam.
Gertrude was born in Dudley, the daughter of the late Frank and the late Clementine (Hejwosz) Olszta.
Gertrude enjoyed tending to her yard and flower garden at her home on Kapitulik Rd. in N. Grosvenordale.
She worked at the Federal Reserve in Boston and for her husband Abraham at his business Pine St. Manufacturing in Boston, New Bedford, Mass., and Worcester.
She lived many years in Winthrop, Mass., and N. Grosvenordale before moving to Matulaitis in 2006.
She enjoyed daily Mass at the Nursing Home.
She leaves nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Abraham Feldman in 1979; brothers Stanley and Edward Olszta and sisters Theresa Olszta, and Irene LaPan.
The Funeral Mass was Jan. 6 at Holy Trinity Church, Webster.
Donations: Holy Trinity Church, 68 Lake St., Webster, MA 01570.
Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley.
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'Almost Maine'
The Bradley Playhouse will present "Almost Maine" starting Jan. 19. In rehearsal are Roy Simmons (Jimmy), Larissa Bailey (Waitress) and Sarah Hart (Sandrine). Photo courtesy of Chris Atwood.
PUTNAM — The new year is under way and the winter doldrums have set in with a vengeance. Looking forward to Valentine’s Day, the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse on Front Street presents John Cariani’s collection of tales about love, “Almost, Maine,” which opens Jan. 19 and runs for three weekends. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19, 20, 26, 27 and Feb. 2, 3 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 21, 28 and Feb. 4. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for seniors and students. All seats are reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or at 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance or at the door. Purchasing your tickets ahead of time is recommended.
The TNECT production of “Almost, Maine” is directed by Kathy Parker with assistant director Natasha Darius. The actors are: Zach Scovish, Age Anderson, J. Matthew Bailey, Melissa Dakai, Roy Simmons, Sarah Hart, Larissa Bailey, Laura Jedynasty, Lucas Pereira, Brittany Miskell, Michael Pray, Dave Carter, Kyle Rictor, Jonathan Demers, Wendy Harris, Sharon Starr, Vincent A. Chaisson, Melissa Beausoleil, Corey Groh.
“Almost, Maine,” which premiered in Portland, Maine, in 2004, presents nine sweet, poignant and witty stories about the hazards encountered in the pursuit of love. They all take place on one deeply cold and magical Midwinter Night, propelled by the mystical energy of the aurora borealis. The residents of this mythical town are humorous, plain-spoken and sincere and their stories, like love itself, will surprise you.