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The preseason for the Woodstock Academy prep basketball teams came to a conclusion with the PJN Classic tournament over the past two weekends.
From now on, everything counts.
“The kids are excited, they’re ready to go,” said Centaurs prep coach Tony Bergeron. “We’ve had a long preseason. They want to put the uniforms on and compete.”
The Centaurs Gold and Blue prep programs both open this weekend with the Woodstock Academy Invitational featuring a pair of games for both squads..
The Gold squad takes on the Olympus Prep Academy Red team at 7:45 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Alumni Fieldhouse and the Olympus Prep Academy Grey squad at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4.
“Olympus is comprised of New York/New Jersey area kids, very tough, very well-coached. It’s an extremely organized Academy and has two teams, much like we do. Those games will be interesting,” Bergeron said.
Olympus Prep Academy, out of Williamstown, N.J., splits its two teams in half with equivalent talent on both rosters.
The Blue team will be playing Thetford Academy out of Quebec, Canada.
“Thetford is a little different (than Olympus). It has a Gold and a Black team and their Gold team is absolutely loaded. They have Quincy Guerrier who is headed to college, probably at mid-semester – the rumors are Syracuse University. He’s a 6-foot, 7-inch wing who scored 41 points against our Gold team last year so he’s terrific. The Black team is very talented, but younger, so we’re excited about the Invitational for sure,” Bergeron said.
The Centaurs Blue squad will play the Thetford Black team at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 3 and the Thetford Gold squad at 1 p.m. Nov. 4.
Bergeron said he has learned a lot about the Woodstock Academy program over the past couple of weeks.
The Blue team played six scrimmages and the Gold squad had five.
“They grasped the system and played completely unselfishly. I think both teams are doing that well right now which is terrific. The traction we have with college coaches is unbelievable and how many have shown up on campus is probably the highlight of the preseason,” Bergeron said.
Two more Woodstock Academy players announced their verbal commitments to Division I schools recently.
Preston Santos, a native of Providence, will be headed to the University of Massachusetts while Darion Jordan-Thomas, from Brockton, Mass., has given Staten Island’s Wagner College a verbal agreement.
That brings to number of committed players to five.
Earlier, forward Tre Williams committed to Indiana State; point guard Noah Fernandes decided he was going to be a member of the Wichita State Shockers and swing player Mikal Gjerde will play for San Diego State.
Bergeron said, even with those commitments, this season will still be a learning experience for most in his program at Woodstock Academy.
“I think we just have to learn more about the level that we’re getting ready to play. I don’t know if they’re fully comprehending what is coming our way and it comes soon, but they will find out. Get some wins and learn how to win and take a loss here and there and learn from that. There is some growing to do. We’re a young team,” Bergeron said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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