Ice Retreats
The ice is fading away, revealing some nice green moss. Linda Lemmon photo.

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Leading scorer Hassan Diarra tops PSA’s '24 Hall of Fame
PUTNAM — Putnam Science Academy released its Hall of Fame Class of 2024, led by all-time leading scorer and two-time national champion Hassan Diarra. Diarra is one of eight members of the incoming class, which also features former players Kyle Lofton, Osun Osunniyi, Jose Perez, Tyson Etienne, and Danny Upchurch, as well as the 2017-18 team that won the school’s first national championship, and contributor Donald Cushing.
Diarra played three seasons at PSA and left his mark both in the record books and in PSA’s lasting legacy. He tops the school’s all-time leaderboard in points (1,469), assists (470), and games played (118) and upon his graduation after the 2019-20 season, was the only player in school history to win two national titles. He is second all-time in career scoring average (12.5 points per game), steals (193), and 3-pointers made (140). Diarra, highly regarded as the face of PSA’s basketball program, is also fourth in career rebounds (522) and has the third-most 20-point games in a career with 12. After PSA, Diarra played two seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to UConn, where he has won two NCAA championships with the Huskies. Diarra’s older brother, Mamadou, is a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Lofton was at PSA in 2017-18 before heading to St. Bonaventure. One of the top point guards in program history, Lofton averaged 10.2 points and 5.9 assists, and his 241 total assists are the third-most in a single season at PSA. Lofton was also a defensive handful, as he finished the season with 77 steals, the sixth-highest total in a single season, and he still holds the single-game record with eight.
Perez was a teammate of Lofton’s on the 2017-18 team and was one of the best scorers in PSA history. In 42 games he scored 651 points, which is the second-highest total in a single season, and his average of 15.5 points per game sits just outside the single-season Top 10. He had 11 games with at least 20 points, including two of at least 30. Perez, who went to Gardner-Webb University after PSA, made 77 3-pointers that year, good for 11th in a single season, and he was also adept at getting to the free throw line where he made 119 of 171 shots for a 69.6% clip, all of which are the sixth-highest totals in a single season. 
Osunniyi was a third member of the 2017-18 team and is arguably the greatest defensive player to ever wear the PSA uniform. In 42 games he blocked 77 shots, which is the third-highest total in a single season and sixth-most all-time. But he wasn’t just a shot blocker; Osunniyi, who joined Lofton at St. Bonaventure, drew a school single-season record 31 charges, which also puts him first on the all-time list in that category. He added 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while making 59.1% of his field goal attempts.
Lofton, Perez, and Osunniyi all played key roles on the 2017-18 team that went 39-3 and delivered the school’s first national championship. All 13 members of the team went on to play college basketball, including 11 at the Div. I level. PSA scored 100 or more points 18 times and won its games by an average of 23.5 points. The Mustangs had big wins over St. Thomas More, Brewster Academy, Montverde Academy, and OSL and finished the year with 24 straight wins. All three of the Mustangs’ losses that year were by six points or fewer. 
Etienne is widely considered the hardest working player to ever play at PSA, and stories of his work ethic are passed down every year since he played in 2018-19. His steady hand led the Mustangs to a 38-2 record and spot in the national semifinals. Etienne, currently playing in the NBA G-League with the Long Island Nets, led PSA in scoring (14.6) and was second in assists (4.0), while also averaging a shade over 1 steal per game. Etienne, who went on to a great career at Wichita State after PSA, had eight games of at least 20 points (including a team-high 26) and finished with three double-doubles.  
Upchurch was one of the best players in PSA’s early years, starring for the Mustangs in 2013-14. Helped the team in assists (7.6 per game) and was second on the team in scoring (13.7 points). His 258 assists are the second-most in a single season and seventh all-time. Upchurch, who played at Charleston Southern following his PSA career, had nine games with at least 10 assists, including two with 14, which is the school’s single-game record, and he finished the year with six double-doubles.
Cushing, meanwhile, has been one of the most ardent backers and supporters of PSA athletics as a whole and the Prep basketball team in particular since the program’s inception. He has served as PSA’s Head of School  twice, helping transition through a couple of difficult times. With more than 40 years of experience as a school administrator, teacher, and coach, Cushing has served as a mentor to PSA ownership and administration over the last eight years especially. 
This is PSA’s third Hall of Fame class, with induction ceremonies scheduled for June 14.

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Ahmed gets rebound 1,000; #1 PSA has 2-0 week
PUTNAM — Jaeden Roberts led PSA team with 17 points and 2 rebounds and Adama Tambedou had 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 steals in the win.  Tony Williams added 13 points and Jah Hatchett had 12 points and 3 steals as #1 Putnam Science moved to 33-2 on the season. Nico Pena chipped in 11 points and Abdou Yadd had 10 points and 2 rebounds for PSA.  Warren Keel had a nice game with 9 points and 4 assists and Brayson Green had 8 points and 5 rebounds.  Jamias Ferere had 8 points and 6 rebounds and Ben Ahmed had 6 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.  
WOONSOCKET, R.I. —  #1-ranked PSA ended the regular season with a big win over Mount St. Charles 94-51 to finish 34-2.  The Mustangs haven’t lost since Nov. 15 and have won 26 games in a row heading in the Power 5 Conference tournament next week.  Tony Williams led PSA with 14 points, 7 assists and 3 steals and Abdou Yadd had 14 points and 6 rebounds in the win.  Brayson Green 13 points and 5 rebounds, Ben Ahmed 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks and Parrish Edmond 12 points and 5 rebounds all finished in double figures.  Jaeden Roberts added 9 points and 5 rebounds and Warren Keel had 7 points and 4 assists.  During the first half, Ahmed became the first ever Mustang to grab rebound 1,000 in his Putnam Science career.  Ahmed has been rewriting the record books and PSA and holds most scoring and rebounding records.
Elite
PUTNAM — Elite Boys knocked off Power 5 Conference first-place team Broome Street School Monday night 92-91. Lazarus Mason led the Mustangs with 19 points and 3 steals and Octavius Wheeler had 17 points and 3 assists in the win. Dominick LaDuca added 16 points and 3 assists and Jacob Wang had 14 points and 7 rebounds as PSA moved to 23-9 on the season. Amyas Hall-Chiari added 11 points and 2 rebounds for Putnam Science.
BRONX, N.Y. — Playing at Our Savior Lutheran is never an easy road trip, the Elite Boys found that out on Tuesday afternoon falling 114-80. Amyas Hall-Chiari (5 rebounds) and Lazarus Mason (2 assists) led the Mustangs scoring 16 points apiece in the loss. Octavious Wheeler had 15 points and 2 rebounds and Javelle Epps had 12 points and 4 rebounds for Putnam Science (23-10). Maksym Shepel chipped in 10 points and 5 rebounds that have lost 5 of their last 6 games.
PUTNAM — Lazarus Mason broke the school record and scored 50 points Friday evening to lift the Elite Boys to a 114-103 win to move to 24-10 on the season. The previous record was held by Jalen Claude who scored 47 points last season. Mason scored 27 points in the first half to give the Mustangs a lead they would not let go. Mason hit 7 three pointers including 6 in the first half and also was 7 for 8 from the free throw line. Octavius Wheeler added 26 points and 4 assists and Javelle Epps had 14 points and 2 rebounds in the win.
TROY,N.Y. —The Elite Boys lost Saturday morning 97-84 at Redemption Christian to end the regular season with a 24-11 record. Lazarus Mason once again had a big game with 23 points and 2 assists and 8th grader David Djan had 13 points and 6 rebounds in the loss. Dominick LaDuca added 13 points and 2 assists and Javelle Epps chipped in 11 points and 4 rebounds.   
Espinosa Playing Well for Varsity Boys
PUTNAM — The Varsity Boys opened the season up in November on the road at Hoosac and lost 77-55. Monday afternoon the Mustangs got their revenge and knocked off Hoosac 70-59 to improve to 15-12 on the season. TJ Espinosa had a game-high 31 points and added 6 assists and 4 rebounds in the win. KJ Cyr had 17 points, 7 assists and 3 steals and Jason Wang chipped in 9 points and 6 rebounds.
PUTNAM — The Varsity Boys gave powerhouse Mekeel School (15-2) a battle in the first half but ran out of gas and got out scored 69 to 35 in the second half to drop to 15-13 on the season. TJ Espinosa led PSA with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists and Gigi Mazanishvilli had 13 points and 5 rebounds in the loss. KJ Stcyr added 10 points, 7 assists and 2 steals and Angel Seinturier grabbed 8 rebounds for Putnam Science. The Varsity Boys head to Hoosac this Sunday for the league playoffs to finish off the season.
Prep Girls
NEW LEBANON, N.Y. — Janaya Prince led the Lady Mustangs with 19 points, 3 assists and 2 steals but it wasn’t enough as PSA lost 54-46 to drop to 15-9 on the season.  Kate Lipatova added 5 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals and Valentina Vrcan had 7 points and 2 rebounds.  Varvara Utina chipped in 6 points and 2 steals in the loss.
PUTNAM — The Prep Girls took on Mount St. Charles on Senior Night in front of a packed house but lost 52-44 to fall to 15-10 on the season. Tatiana Bell (6 rebounds) and Helin Yoztyurk (4 rebounds & 2 steals) led the Lady Mustangs scoring 8 points each. Rachel Lynch added 6 points and Varvara Utina also had 6 points and 2 assists in the loss. Kate Lipatova had 4 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals and Janaya Prince had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals for Putnam Science. 
Varsity Girls
POMFRET — Nina Stanojevic led the Varsity Girls team to a 50-45 win on the road over the Pomfret School Saturday afternoon to move to 11-7 on the season. Stanojevic had 20 points and 6 assists in the win and Lina Ostos added 10 points and 6 rebounds.  Cecile Lufungula had 12 points and Altinai Toucheteau 9 points to help the Lady Mustangs and Ruby Pebance chipped in 10 rebounds!
HOOSAC, N.Y. — Vega Larru had 19 points, 4 assists and 4 steals to lift the Varsity Girls to a 67-62 road win at Hoosac. Lahelie Leyde had 17 points and 5 steals and Nina Stanojevic added 15 points, 5 assists and 3 steals in the big win. Ayca Kazak added 4 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals and Defne Mumcu chipped in 7 rebounds. Lina Ostos grabbed 5 rebounds and Antonia De Giorgis had 4 rebounds for the Lady Mustangs who moved to 12-7 on the season.
PUTNAM — The Varsity Girls won big on Senior Day 81-46 over Mount St. Charles to move to 13-7 on the season. Ayca Kazak led the Lady Mustangs with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals and Altinai Toucheteau added 17 points and 3 assists in the win. Antonia De Giorgis added 11 points and 9 rebounds and both Lina Ostos (5 rebounds) and Defne Mumcu (7 rebounds) scored 8 points each for Putnam Science. Nina Stanojevic grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds for PSA.

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