Another week, another 1, 2, 3 wins for PSA’s Prep basketball team.
The top-ranked Mustangs improved to 25-0 with a trio of convincing wins – 83-64 at South Kent, 101-64 over Vermont Academy, and 97-53 over Bridgton Academy – and continue to set their sights on national championship No. 3 next month.
“We did what we needed to do this week,” said coach Tom Espinosa. “South Kent is No. 14 in the country, a really good team that has been playing really well, and that is never an easy place to play. We’ve had trouble there before. They beat us twice down there last year, so we knew we had to be ready to go.”
In that game, DayDay Gittens did a little bit of everything, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds, four steals, two assists, two blocks, and he also drew a charge, in leading a balanced attack. And has been the case throughout the season, it was PSA’s defense that set the table for its offense.
“We played great defense,” Espinosa said. “They had 24 points at the 14-minute mark of the second half. Our defense really played an unbelievable game.”
Desmond Claude added 21 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while Barry Evans had 16 points, eight rebounds, and three steals and Arturo Dean had 10 points, six boards, four assists, and three steals. Ugonna Kingsley ended up with 13 points, nine rebounds, and a blocked shot for the Mustangs.
Saturday against Vermont, Kingsley and Duane Thompson both had a team-high 13 points, followed by Claude with 12, and Sotirios Nafpliotis with 11.
Sunday it was Bridgton’s turn, and for the second straight day, the guys at the back of the bench got a lot of minutes and everyone who played scored. Arturo Dean made all eight of his field goals and finished with 21 points, Kingsley had 10 points, 10 boards, and seven blocks. Gittens, who always fills the stat sheet had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
It was a tougher week for the Elite team, which came into action having lost its last three games by a combined four points. And after knocking off St. Thomas More 83-69 on the road Tuesday night behind a 31-point effort from Jalen Claude, the Mustangs felt like they were turning the corner.
“We were in familiar territory, tie game, back and forth game for most of the second half,” PSA coach John Cavaliere said. “We called a timeout with about four or five minutes left, up seven, and we said ‘Here we go again, we’re here, now what are we going to do?’
“And the guys played smart basketball, good team halfcourt defense. The difference between this one and some of those other games was we didn’t beat ourselves. Guys brought a lot of energy, got some big turnovers, and hit free throws. Guys just made plays to get the job done.”
But as good as that win felt, a 91-90 overtime loss the next night to Notre Dame-West Haven felt even worse.
“This is our toughest loss,” coach John Cavaliere said. “Another one-point loss...it’s a tough pill to swallow. We can play hard, and I think we’re giving everything we’ve got throughout these games. But we’re continuing to have mental lapses on the last few possessions, and that is not allowing us to reap the rewards and win the game.”
Lamar Watkins and Elio Phillips both had 15 points, and Ned Fitzpatrick and Jaiden Brown added 11 for PSA.
The Varsity team won its lone game of the week, handling St. Andrew’s easily, 66-31. Pau Amengual had a game-high 20 points in the road win. Taylan Cengiz added a dozen points, Joey Pezzano finished with 11, and Tomeu Pieras chipped in nine points for PSA.
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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When PSA’s Prep Black teams take the court for this weekend’s Independent Schools National Championships in North Carolina, Molly Moffitt wants her teammates to remember something very basic: Have fun.
“It sounds so simple,” said Moffitt, the Mustangs’ second-leading scorer this season, “but it’s so easy to lose sight of that. We need to remember – me included – why we even play this game and why we love it.
“I love it for all the things it’s given to me. Basketball is a chance to compete, to go out and get better, a chance to meet incredible people, and to play with teammates I love. Yes, we’re going there wanting to win a national championship, and we have talked about that since the first day, but I think if we can go and just play, and just have fun, then the moment doesn’t get too big and I think we’re going to be OK.”
The Mustangs had one game scheduled this week before heading to Mooresville, N.C. (about 30 miles north of Charlotte), Wednesday at Winchendon. Minus the outcome of that game, PSA enters nationals with momentum. They fell to 5-5 after losing at St. Andrew’s in late January; another late loss for PSA, which has led in the second half of each game it has dropped. But since then, the Mustangs had rolled off five straight wins.
The fifth of those was Friday, 57-53 at Brewster.
“It wasn’t pretty but we will take it,” coach Devin Hill said after Moffitt scored 18 and Ines Goryanova had 17. “We’re still learning how to finish games. But I always tell them that good teams find a way to win, and bad teams find a way to lose. So we found a way to win.”
The night before, a 30-point win at Monroe College, might have been the season-turner. Goryanova had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, and Paris Kirk had 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench to pace a balanced scoring attack in which nine players scored at least five points.
“Best game of our season,” Hill said. “It’s the first time we’ve put together a complete game. I told them afterward that our energy and effort was there from start to finish and everyone contributed to the win.
“We’ve won lately but have not played our best. This felt different. Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.”
Tuesday night, Jada Mills and Goryanova had 14 points apiece in a 64-58 win at Storm King School, while Janeya Grant finished with 13.
“I think we’re in a good spot mentally going into North Carolina,” Grant said. “There are definitely some things we need to clean up and get better at on the court, but I like where we are a lot better than before we won these five in a row.
“We’ve led in every game we’ve lost. For us, I think finishing games is just being on the same page and executing what we want to do when we have that lead. I think we’ve been better at that, and I hope we get a chance to show that this weekend.”
Said Moffitt: “It’s about the moment. I think at times the moment may have gotten too big for us and we’ve lost leads and lost games. So if we are able to just stay in the moment, and not treat every mistake like it’s a huge deal, that’s when we’re really good. We have fun and just play.
“We’re excited to go play for a national championship. It’s been our goal since the beginning. It’s going to be a great experience for us to go out and be together one more time.”
PSA’s Prep Red team, which is also heading to Mooresville for the weekend, went 2-1 last week, with road wins Hoosac (67-53) and Vermont Academy (77-25) sandwiched
around a road loss to Bradford Christian Academy (63-57). Zuza Komor had 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists against Hoosac, while Zoé Bayer had 10 points and a pair of steals. Alice Meunier finished with eight points and seven rebounds, Astou Ndiaye nine points and six rebounds, and Lilly Krysinski seven points for the Mustangs. Bayer continued her outstanding season with another big game against Vermont, tallying 22 points, six steals, and four assists. Thompson native Hailey Johnson had her best game of the season, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year, and Komor added 14 points and four steals for the Mustangs (7-5). Meunier chipped in 11 points, six boards, three steals, and a pair of assists in the win. Komor had 13 points and Meunier grabbed 12 rebounds against Bradford.
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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William R. Cournoyer
THOMPSON — William R. Cournoyer, 76, formerly of Quaddick Rd, died Feb.7, 2022, at Yale New Haven Hospital.  He was the husband of the late Angela (Campeol) Cournoyer.  Born in 1945 in Worcester, he was the son of the late Napoleon and Ruth (Coupe) Cournoyer.
Mr. Cournoyer, was the owner of his family business; Cournoyer Floor Sanding and Finishing Co. He was an amazing craftsman and contractor since he was 13.
He enjoyed listening to country music, especially Elvis, and taking rides in the country. William would never miss a family event and will be remembered as a very compassionate and giving man with an incredible work ethic, who impacted everyone who knew him.
He leaves his children, Todd Cournoyer of Webster, Dawn Thornton of Moosup , Marysia Devil (Vladimir) of Putnam, Chad Cournoyer of Putnam, and Chantell Cournoyer  and her fiancé Steven of Moosup; his siblings, Dwight Cournoyer, Roseann Jarmolowicz, and Faith Travis; his grandchildren, Anastasia, Nicole, Katie, Romeo, Adric, Vanessa, Scarlett, Colin, Aidan, and Joshua; his great-grandchildren, Landon, Kaidon, Madilynn, and Stephen Jr.; and his long time best friend, Janice Irwin.  He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Erica.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, with a service in the funeral home at 7:30.

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