Rotary pg 9 3-29-12
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Tipoff
The Blue and the Gray girls' basketball teams wait for the first tipoff at the Putnam Rotary Club's Ray Brousseau Senior Shootout. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Ron P. Coderre
Despite facing a team featuring a pair of college-bound Division II female basketball players, the Gray team sponsored by Archambault Insurance Associates beat the Blue team 53-49 in a contest that was close throughout. The game was the tipoff of the Ray Brousseau Putnam Rotary Club Senior All Star annual event.
Early on, it appeared that the Blue team, sponsored by Matulaitis Nursing Home and coached by Carla Faucher, was going to run away with an easy victory. Led by Pomfret School’s Megan Gaudreau, who is headed to St. Michael’s College, and Tourtellotte’s Liz McKinley, headed to Southern Connecticut State University, the Blue team held early leads of as many as eight points.
After settling in and re-aligning the defense, Gray team coach Willie Bousquet of Putnam unleashed Plainfield’s Kim Bouten on the offensive end. The Panthers’ Bouten responded with an electrifying 23-point performance, with seven of her field goals coming from beyond the three-point arc to lead her team to victory. Her performance earned her the Gray team Most Valuable Player award.
“This was a great event. I’m pleased I was invited. It’s an honor to have played my final high school game in this venue,” said Bouten.
Bouten received strong support in victory from a pair of Putnam Clippers, Christie Austin who had 12 points and Holly Desrosiers with 11. Windham Tech’s Stacie Meikle controlled both the offensive and defensive boards, while Woodstock’s Renee Ringuette had four points and Putnam’s Megan Heaney had three in a winning effort.
Gaudreau and McKinley didn’t disappoint the crowd, turning in stellar performances. Gaudreau, who led her team with 20 points, was selected as the Blue team Most Valuable Player. Known for her three-point shooting, Gaudreau hit four shots from beyond the arc.
McKinley had 16 points and controlled the glass for her team. Her teammate from Tourtellotte, Felicia Torres, chipped in eight points. The Killingly duo of Alicia Giambattista (5) and Renee Lawlor were big on defense in a losing effort.
“This game is always fun, not only for the players and fans but also for the coaches. It’s great to see the spirit and camaraderie among the ladies in this game, after they compete so hard against each other all season,” said winning coach Bousquet.
Although the rosters appeared tilted toward the Blue team, a solid defensive effort and some long range bombing by Kim Bouten were the eventual difference in the outcome.