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Putnam Science Academy’s Elite boys’ basketball team had a couple of individual virtuoso performances last week. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, only one of them came in a win.
Alex Vertus scored 20 of his 42 points across the fourth quarter and overtime of a 104-100 loss to Notre Dame-West Haven Feb. 26; Theo Benoit had 23 of his 31 points in the second half of the Feb. 28 89-67 victory against Overwin Academy.
“I think we pick and choose when we want to compete the way we’re supposed to,” PSA coach Dana Valentine said of his team’s inconsistencies. “We can’t do that. Guys are still trying to learn how to win consistently and how to approach every day with a workman-like mentality. It’s got to be for the full game. We’re learning.”
Vertus’ huge closeout helped the Mustangs (5-4) rally from a 13-point halftime deficit.
“Alex played great,” Valentine said. “He rebounded well and competed on defense. His effort really gave us a chance to win. He was really efficient…I didn’t even realize he had anything close to 42 until seeing the box score.”
Sean McCarthy added 23 points and Edwin Linares 15 in the loss.
Feb. 28 was the Benoit Show, as he scored the team’s first 10 points of the second half, to give the Mustangs some extra breathing room.
“He’s definitely our best shooter,” Valentine said. “He hadn’t really been feeling it the last couple of games so I think for him to get the first one or two to fall really got him going. He is definitely capable of doing what he did in the second half, and getting hot real quick.”
Vertus scored 17 points, while Linares and LJ Hicks finished with 13 points each.
PSA also won a game Feb. 26, knocking off the same Notre Dame team, 67-66, as Hicks, Vertus, and McCarthy scored 15 points apiece.
Varsity Wins
PSA’s Varsity boys’ team won its lone game last week, posting a solid road win over St. Thomas More, 58-47. Jorge Trueba-Hernandez scored 24 points in in the victory on Feb. 23, while Jose Guerrero chipped in 14 points and Nathan Couhe finished with 12 for the Mustangs (4-3).
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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