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Plenty of Gold for Quest Competition Team
Members of the Quest Competition Team traveled to Orlando recently to compete in an international competition attended by karate schools from across the U.S. as well as Aruba, Chile, Germany, The Netherlands, Scotland and Malaysia. Each student competed in a division defined by their age and rank. Master Kristin Duethorn listed Quest’s results, from left: Angie Seraphin: Gold in Weapons, Gold in Forms, Bronze in Sparring; Melissa McGovern: Gold in Weapons, Silver in Sparring; Master Kristin Duethorn: Gold in Weapons, Silver in Forms; Master Derek Pomes: Gold in Weapons, Silver in Forms, Silver in Team Sparring; Blaise Bolig: Silver in Weapons, Silver in Forms, Bronze in Sparring; Troy Potter: Silver in Weapons, Silver in Sparring. Courtesy photo.

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A lot of guys can tell you the names.
But Que Duncan will be one of the rare Putnam Science Academy basketball players who knows what it’s like to have actually gone up against them.
Duncan is transferring to Putnam Science Academy for his senior season after playing the last two at Notre Dame-West Haven, a team PSA beat three times by an average of 30 points over those two years.
“I remember DayDay Gittens and Desmond (Claude), Arturo (Dean), Mo Dioubate,” Duncan said recently. “PSA has always been a powerhouse. And every time I played against them, I could tell going to that school, they’re going to put you in the best position to play college basketball as a freshman. That’s my goal. Going to Putnam will really help me do that.”
The combo guard already has a solid foundation, according to PSA associate head coach Josh Scraba.
“When we played Notre Dame in 2022, Que was picking us apart as their point guard. Six-foot-5, making plays,” he said. “This past season, we watched him become a knock down shooter for that team. And now watching him with Expressions (Duncan’s AAU team), he’s shown his IQ and feel with a really talented group. I think when we get going in September, he’s going to blow up.”
Duncan, who holds a half-dozen Div. I scholarship offers, has already scored 1,000 career points – and that includes a COVID-truncated freshman season.
“For me, first and foremost, I need to get stronger,” he said. “I think that’s the big separator. I need to get stronger, and I need to get quicker laterally on defense. I can play defense, but I need to get better.
“I’m going to knock down some 3s, I’m comfortable scoring the ball. But if you need me to get the offense going and run some plays, I can do that too. I’m not a guy who’s into personal stats. I just want to win. I’m just trying to get better and trying to help Putnam win another national championship.”
Duncan, a Waterbury native who counts Steph Curry and Kevin Durant as his favorite players, realized around seventh grade that he was pretty talented on the court. He was scoring a lot of points with a local team, and thought about what he could do if he started taking the game more seriously.
“I first started playing because it was fun,” he said. “Like most kids right, I liked playing with my friends and putting the ball in the hoop. Now I feel like I love it because it creates bonds on and off the court. I’ve got a lot of my friends because of basketball.
“And I think basketball can put me and my family in a better position in the future if I keep playing and I keep working. That’s really what drives me.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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Putnam Science Academy last week hosted its biggest Drills and Skills camp to date.
It was also the best one.
“When these kids come to us for the week, they usually do a really good job,” said PSA men’s basketball coach and camp director Tom Espinosa.
“But this past week, it was the best group of kids we’ve ever had.
“I’m talking about their energy, their willingness to listen and learn, how positive they all were. I didn’t have to talk to one kid about their attitude all week. No one complained about playing time or other kids at the camp, no one complained about calls by the ref during games. They were phenomenal.”
There were 75 boys and girls, ages 6-14, working out from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
They were broken into two divisions – the Big East for the younger group, the NBA for the older – with three teams in each. Coaches TaNajia Smith, Ashley Burke, Kevin Donovan, Josh Scraba, Nick Schmidt, and Harrison Chipkin each selected a Camper of the Day from their respective teams to recognize someone who stood out for their work ethic.
In addition to daily games, campers also went through multiple stations in which they worked on dribbling, passing, and shooting, and took part in multiple competitions.
The week ended with Providence (coached by Burke) winning the Big East championship game, and the Nuggets (coached by Scraba) winning the NBA title game, followed by all-star games for both divisions.
Award winners from the week include: Free throw champions, Jordan Ashton (Big East) and TJ Espinosa (NBA); Elbow shooting champions, Ashton (Big East) and Espinosa (NBA); Hot Shot champions, Max Arnio (Big East) and Espinosa (NBA); 1-on-1 champions, Gavin Sweatman (Big East) and Espinosa (NBA); Coaches Award, Julian Thorn (Big East) and Kason Safford (NBA); Hustle Award, Greyson Dollar (Big East) and Anna Hernandez (NBA); and MVP, Thomas Neal (Big East) and Camden Kell (NBA).
There will be one more shortened camp. Go to: https://putnamscience.org/psa-drills-and-skills-aau to register.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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PUTNAM — Alfred R Touchette, Sr., 93, of Viens Street, died July 15, 2023. He was the husband of the late Germaine C. (LeBeau) Touchette. Born Nov. 17, 1929, in Dayville, he was the son of the late Joseph and Ida (Charron) Touchette.
Alfred worked for Putnam Herzl as a Dye and chemical mixer for many years. He was the president of the Local 1426 union for 23 years.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a longtime member of the Thompson American Legion. Alfred enjoyed collecting coins, watching sports, and local politics.
He leaves two sons, Fred Touchette of Chepachet, and Joseph Touchette of Putnam; two daughters, Cheryl (William) Desjardin of Dayville, and Charlene (Raymond) Bennett of Danielson; sister, Agnes Cote of Danielson; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by brothers Edmond Touchette, Leon Touchette, Joseph Touchette, Donald Columbia, and sister Rita Dragon.
The Funeral Service was July 25 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Danielson.

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