PSA takes 3rd
in national
tournament
It would have been so much easier if they got blown out, lost by 20, never had a chance.
But for the Putnam Science Academy girls’ prep basketball team, a one-point loss in the semifinals of the Insider Exposure Independent School Nationals last weekend meant that their third-place overall finish was, well, bittersweet to say the least.
The Mustangs won games Feb. 21 (66-47 over TPLS) and Feb. 22 (62-60 over Niagara Prep) to advance to the Final Four Saturday night. It was there that their season came up just short, when they fell 46-45 to eventual champion Winston Salem Christian Academy.
“To lose by one point, it really makes you think,” PSA coach Devin Hill said Feb. 23, following the team’s 55-39 win over King’s Christian Collegiate in the consolation game. “When you’re that close, and you have a lead with a few minutes to go, you felt like you had control and that we had a real chance to play for a championship...It’s really tough to get that close and really feel like, ‘Hey we can run this thing, we can do this.’
“So it’s an ‘all things considered’ kind of thing. But yes, I am proud of how we finished.”
The Mustangs (16-9) led Winston Salem by five with about two minutes to play but got into foul trouble, leading their opponent to get back in the game. But PSA still had its chances. Sharpshooter Delaney Haines missed a contested 3-pointer late that would have tied the game, and Aaliyah Brittian’s field goal in the final seconds could have been an and-1 opportunity but the referees did not call a foul despite at least some contact on the shot. Brittian’s basket accounted for the final score.
Shawni Cornfield had 11 points, Sabou Gueye 10, and Gaines nine in the loss.
Sunday morning’s third-place game, despite the wide final margin of victory, was no sure thing for PSA. KCC actually led 13-4 early before PSA responded.
“It’s the human element,” Hill said. “We just played two really tough games, physically and emotionally tough games, so there was going to be some kind of letdown. But we responded, especially in the second half.”
Lani Cornfield scored a game-high 14 points in the win. Shawni Cornfield and Haines finished with 13 apiece.
PSA opened its weekend with its second win of the season over TPLS; the teams played in the season-opener back in October. Just as that first one was a convincing victory, so was too this.
Lani Cornfield went for 20 and Sabou Gueye 17 for the Mustangs. Sarah Streete also had her best game of the season, giving PSA seven big points.
“Sabou was great,” Hill said of the incredibly gifted wing player, who still has another year to go at PSA. “The secret is about to be out on her.”
The Mustangs handled their business in the second round as well, taking down Niagara Prep in a tight game. Brittian and Niya Fields came up with huge steals in the final minute to seal the victory.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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caption:
‘The Professionals’
The 7 p.m. shift at the NOW Bartender Night saw the highest team total of the night with $2,000.75 raised by “The Professionals.” The team featured Earl Rosebrooks of Fluid Coating Technology, Dick Loomis of the Loomis Team at RE/MAX, Jason St. Onge of The G Seven Catering Company, and Laurence Hale of Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — The 2nd Annual Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. (NOW) Bartender Night Aug. 29 raised $9,000 to support youth wellness programs and scholarships for children living in the 10-town area of northeastern Connecticut. The Bartender Night featured six teams of four bartenders each, facing off in 30-minute shifts, competing to raise the most in tips. Putnam Elks bartender Sharon Stewart assisted.
From 5:30 to 6 p.m. “The Killer J’s” started the event with a strong lead of $1,388 and featured team members Jack Burke of J&B Transport, Joe Carlone Jr. of Linemaster Switch, Jake Dykeman of Putnam Ford, and Jeff Rawson of Rawson Materials.
At 6 team “Take it to the Bank” raised $672.50 with Lynn Bourque of Putnam Bank, Kevin Merchant of Jewett City Savings Bank, Maria Thomas of bankHometown and Elizabeth Zachow-Deary of CorePlus Federal Credit Union.
At 6:30 the “Legal Eagles” raised an impressive $1,277 with members Tom Borner and Kate Cerrone of The Northeast Law Center, Ed Higgins of Bachand, Longo & Higgins, and Madilyn Smith of Madilyn C. Smith, attorney & Rawson Materials.
The 7 p.m. shift saw the highest team total of the night with $2,000.75 raised by “The Professionals.” The team featured Earl Rosebrooks of Fluid Coating Technology, Dick Loomis of the Loomis Team at RE/MAX, Jason St. Onge of The G Seven Catering Company, and Laurence Hale of Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors.
$775.50 was raised by Jay Byrnes of the Byrnes Agency, Kristin Duethorn of Quest Martial Arts, Sheila Frost of the Courthouse Bar & Grille, and Gary Osbrey of WINY Radio, making up the team “Talented Talkers.”
And the final team of the night, “Keep Calm & Sell On” closed out the event with the second-highest tips, totaling $1,578.25. The team consisted of Jeff Bousquet of Bousquet’s Appliance, Matt Desaulnier of Gerardi Insurance, Dan Salvas of The Putnam Elks, and Sam Stamatiou of Verizon WirelessZone.
In addition to the tips from each shift, the event also raised funds through a drawing for several items donated by local businesses and individuals. NOW volunteers sold pizza-by-the slice, with 15-inch giant” cheese pizzas donated to NOW by Giant Pizza. The Putnam Elks also contributed to the event by donating $1 of all guest-priced drinks back to NOW.
NOW Executive Director Sarah Wolfburg said: “We are thrilled with the results of the 2nd annual NOW Bartender Night. We were optimistic that we would raise as much as the previous year’s event, but were once again blown away by the generosity of our community!”
All funds raised at the event will support NOW youth wellness programs in the region. NOW, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of Quiet Corner children by ensuring each child’s access to wellness, including fitness, nutrition, and athletics. Serving the 10-town area of Northeast Connecticut, NOW partners with other local youth organizations to provide scholarships to children ages 3-14 who otherwise may not be able to afford such opportunities.
The next NOW’s next fund-raising event is the 8th Annual NOW Road Race & Walk “Lap the Lake” Sept. 15 at The Lake Tavern in Dayville.
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POW! 1st
Fridays
goes
ComiCon
Boom! Bam! Pow! Zap!
ComiCon is coming to Putnam for First Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 6.
Dress as your favorite superhero or come as you are for downtown Putnam’s first ComiCon-themed event! Have your picture taken with Batman and the Batmobile, visit a life-sized Spider-man statue and the Hall of Heroes to experience an iconic moment in comic history!
This is the Putnam Business Association First Fridays Committee’s fifth in a series of six events for the 2019 “Made in America” series.
The American Legion Post #13 will officially start the event at 5, presenting the Color Guard. The National Anthem will be sung by Local Vocal. Local Vocal is a group of local northeastern Connecticut vocalists. They re-formed in 2017 to perform at First Fridays events. The group consists of Donna and Andre Bessette, Linda Colangelo, David LaChance, and Patrick McCarthy.
There will be a live broadcast from WINY’s Gary O from 5 to 6 p.m. and Super Hero movie music until 9.
Live music in Union Square features The Outcrops. The Outcrops dug their roots into rock n’ roll, blues, funk, R&B, old country and jazz. Their original music stems from the same soulful soil.
Events are lined up in conjunction with Wonderland Comics include: Matt Ryan from Free Lunch Studios, Andy Smith, pencil and inker; and Keith Champagne, writer/artist from DC Comics and Marvel. Ryan will lecture at The Bradley Playhouse starting at 5:30 and a Q&A follows. Andy Smith and Keith Champagne do signings and a Q&A inside Wonderland Comics.
Richard Riley of Riley’s Replicas will recreate a life-sized version of the cover artwork from Web of Spider-Man #33 (originally drawn by Mike Zeck) — Spider-Man is crawling out of a shallow grave after being tranquilized by Kraven the Hunter. The statue will be on display on the lawn of the Congregational Church of Putnam.
The Bat Mobile, Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Dead Pool — and maybe a few surprise characters — will be available for photos. The Bat Mobile will be in front of the Congregational Church of Putnam. Super Hero appearances will start at 6. Watch for the Bat Signal!
The “Hall of Heroes” in Art Alley between 85 Main and Bear Hands Brewery will include photo opps, character displays, music and more.
Super Hero capes and masks will be free for children courtesy of NorthStar Home Loans and the Putnam Business Association in the Hall of Heroes outdoor area. The first 200 children will get free capes and masks, starting at 5 p.m. Other children’s activities will be available courtesy of House of Prayer Ministry throughout the event.
Hale YMCA is the Volunteer Spotlight Group and will be hold a Zumba Street Performance at 6.
The Complex Performing Art Centre will feature faculty Seana Hendrickson and Emily Zornado singing and Morgan Brown on guitar at 5:30 and 6:30.
More than 40 art and food vendors will be in attendance.
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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.
April 23
Donna Scavoni, 51, Putnam Road, Pomfret Center; operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, operating under suspension, failure to drive right.
April 25
Javier Ortiz, 37, Everett Street, Southbridge; disorderly conduct.
April 26
Misty Williams, 35, Vandale Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, third-degree assault.
April 28
Anthony Welker, 47, Centennial Street, Putnam; operating under suspension, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, failure to maintain lane.
Matthew Jodoin, 30, Van den Noort Street, Putnam; violation of probation.
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