Reasons to cheer: Player from Norwich leads in 3-pointers; Griswold approves turf field

Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while eagerly awaiting the reunion of The Joe Perry Project at Foxwoods on April 15 …

*Norwich’s Daryl Simmons became Putnam Science Academy’s all-time leader in 3-pointers last Tuesday when he drained one from the left wing roughly midway through the first half of the Mustangs’ 104-52 win over We Believe Academy.

“I’m leaving a mark until I leave here,” Simmons told PSA Sports Information Director Stephen Nalbandian. “I’ve got to let people know there’s a new leader to chase!”

Simmons broke the mark of 140 set by UConn guard Hassan Diarra. Simmons, who has earned two national championship rings with the Mustangs,  is also closing in on the 1,000 career point milestone.

“It’s a special record,” Putnam Science coach Tom Espinosa said. “Obviously, you have to be a terrific shooter, and Darryl is. He’s worked hard at that. And you have to be here for multiple seasons and be on the court enough. Darryl and his family have trusted PSA since he was in eighth grade, and he worked his way onto the Prep team at the end of his third year, and he’s been a leader for us ever since.”

*Speaking of 3-pointers … the NBA All-Star Weekend’s 3-point shootout contest has always been one of my favorite events of the year – right behind the Stanley Cup finals and the Kentucky Derby – ever since the legendary Larry Bird took home the trophy in the first three years (1986, 1987 and 1988) of the event. Only one Celtic player has won it since: Paul Pierce in 2010.

They keep tweaking the contest rules and I’m not so sure I like this year’s long-distance “Starry” ball. What’s next? A half-court shot for five points. I do know that half of the contestants every year just might be the third or fourth best 3-point shooters in the Zanor’s Backyard on any given Saturday during the 1970s and 1980s.

*Yup, my wife says I’m still stuck in the 70s. She borrowed my car to go to the grocery store and the radio was on SiriusXM’s “70s on the 7”, while The James Gang’s “James Gang Rides Again” was on the CD player. Fortunately, she didn’t notice the red, white and blue ABA basketball in the backseat.

*Congrats to Killingly senior Yianni Baribeau who became the first player in school history to score 1,000 career points and grab 1,000 career rebounds. Here’s hoping Yianni continues his amazing career with a deep run in the upcoming state tournament.

*Kudos to Griswold Superintendent of Schools Sean McKenna, Griswold Director of Athletics Stephen Cravinho and all the parents, alumni, youth coaches, and Board of Education members who served on the various committees the past two years: their Field of Dreams is coming true. By a close vote, the Town Referendum for the proposed Griswold Community Multi-Purpose Turf field passed on Feb. 1. The groundbreaking for a new turf football field at Griswold High School should take place sometime in April.

This is a game changer for Wolverines sports, both at the high school and youth sports level. The football, lacrosse, soccer and track teams will now get to compete on a beautiful turf field; 15 of the 19 schools in the ECC have turf fields. There will be more night games and the school will be able to hold league and state tournament events. Bravo!

*A quick peek at the NHL and NBA standings (as of Friday morning) show the Celtics with a league best mark of 43-17 and the Bruins with an historic record of 44-8-5. And to think, with all of those banners hanging from the rafters at the TD Garden, the Bruins and the Celtics have never won the Stanley Cup and the NBA championship during the same year.

*Congrats to Norwich Free Academy’s Nevaeh Yorke and Emily Orcutt, and Plainfield’s Hannah Irons for earning ECC girls basketball All-Star honors. Also, NFA’s Aislinn Richmond, Killingly’s Molly Crabtree, Griswold's Abigail Matheson, and Plainfield’s Morgan Yonush and Madelene Nordstrom for being selected Honorable Mention.

*Rihanna’s Super Bowl lip-sync halftime show had me yearning for the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, Grambling State University Marching Band, Al Hirt, and the Anaheim High School Ana-Hi-Steppers Drill Team and Flag Girls. That was the halftime entertainment for Super Bowl I in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 1967.

*STUCK IN THE ‘70s: On Feb. 26, 1972, the Boston Bruins defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 5-4, at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Derek Sanderson, Johnny McKenzie, and Mike Walton scored goals, while Gerry Cheevers made 28 saves as the B’s improved to 46-8-9. Hmmm … that’s almost the same record as today’s Bruins.

Jimmy Zanor can be reached at jzanor@norwichbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Griswold OKs artificial turf field; Norwich player leads in 3-pointers