By Ron P. Coderre

Wins were difficult to come by as boys’ high school and prep teams’ biggest victory came at the hands of Storm Anna.  Looming over the weekend schedule, Storm Anna had everyone keeping their fingers crossed.  All the team were fortunate as they dodged the storm, getting in all Friday evening games, although good fortune didn’t smile down on all local teams.

Friday could easily have been Friday the 13th as Woodstock Academy, Plainfield, Killingly and Tourtellotte all went down to defeat.  The lone team to pull off a Friday evening victory was Putnam and that was by the hair on their chinnie-chin-chin.

Putnam Science Academy postponed scheduled home games on Thursday against Believe Prep of South Carolina and Saturday against Coastal Academy of New Jersey.  In the only game the Mustangs managed to squeeze in they emerged victorious in a hard fought contest.  Pomfret continued its winning ways and Hyde-Woodstock edged over .500 with a win.  Marianapolis was on the losing side of the ledger in its only contest.

Schoolboys in Search of Victories

Like the legendary Sherlock Holmes boys’ basketball teams were desperately looking for clues on how to pick up victories in a tough week of competition.

Woodstock Academy, on a three-game losing streak, dropped a pair of contests, losing 54-36 to Fitch and 55-49 to Griswold.  The Acads’ offense went south against Fitch as it failed to reach double digits in the final three periods against the Falcons.  The only offensive light came from Bryce Jarrett, who posted 10 points in the loss.

Despite a combined 30 points from Cuinn Stevenson (16) and Nick Short (14), Woodstock lost at the hands of the Wolverines despite enjoying a two-point advantage at intermission.  The loss dropped the Centaurs to 4-5 on the season and 0-3 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division.

Tourtellotte’s offense couldn’t get into the 40’s as the Tigers went winless in two games.  They opened the week with a 57-33 loss to Killingly.  The Redmen jumped out to a 19-4 first period advantage and coasted home.  Chace Wood paced the Redmen offense with 20 points, while the Desaulnier brothers Ben and Luke were also in double figures with 10 and 11 respectively.

Tourtellotte then traveled to East Lyme and lost by a wide margin 74-37.  Evan Ware with 11 points was the lone double digit scorer for coach Neil Bernier.  The Tigers are 4-7 as they pass the midway point of the season.

In its only other game, Killingly lost to Stonington 53-49.  The defeat at the hands of the Bears dropped the Redmen to 4-6 overall and 1-3 in the ECC Medium Division.

Plainfield had a 50-50 week.  The Panthers opened with a big 78-41 win over Wheeler as Liam Jacobs was the game high scorer with 28 points.  Elijah Malboeuf posted 20 points, while Dylan Horn and Connor Davis each chipped in 10 points.  The Panthers were dropped in their next game, losing to Waterford 66-51.  Jacobs was the only double figure scorer with 14 for the 7-3 and 2-3 in the ECC Medium Division Panthers.

Putnam traveled out of conference and out of area to Somers where they were beaten 71-47.  Dan Porcic with 10 points was the only Clipper in double digits.  Coach Shawn Deary’s boys rebounded for a hard fought 59-54 victory over Windham Tech.  Porcic poured in 21 points to lead the way as Zach Evans chipped in a dozen for the 5-4 overall and 3-1 in The Constitution State Conference East Division Clippers.

Ellis Tech fell to 0-9 as the Golden Eagles were beaten by Parish Hill 60-32.  Nico Cummings with 11 points was the lone bright spot for the Eagles.

Diallo on a Hot Streak for the Mustangs

Hamidou Diallo who has been on fire of late drilled home 28 points and grabbed 11 caroms in leading Putnam Science Academy to an 88-83 win over Redemption Christian Academy in a game played in Troy, N.Y.  Mamadou Diarra added a 16-point, 11 rebound-performance in support of Diallo.  Tyreek Perlins contributed 14 points and Tyere Marshall had nine markers to go with 13 rebounds for the 18-2 PSA Mustangs.

Pomfret School raised its record to 9-3 with an 81-63 victory over Groton School of Massachusetts.  Cam Winston had 22 points to lead the way with Vince Conn adding 16.  The Golden Griffins were 27-of-37 from the foul line in the win.

The Hyde-Woodstock Wolfpack got over the .500 mark at 6-5 with a 72-65 win over Commonwealth Academy.  Eamonn Joyce was immense with 21points and 17 rebounds.  His running mate Rodney Ray also posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards.

Marianapolis fell to 3-12 when it lost to McDuffie School 55-39.