March 28, 2024

Townies Boys Basketball Season Ends. Health Pandemic is the Opponent.

RI Interscholastic Tourneys are Over ~ Townies run ends at Elite * Finish

Posted

As expected, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) has ended any further play for those schools remaining in playoffs. The East Providence boys basketball team is one of those teams. After spanking Lincoln High by a 103-82 score on Thursday night, EP was preparing for the Elite 8 level of tourney play. The team has been playing well and was looking for a chance to run at the State Championship.

The RIIL released a statement which said in part: "As a result of today’s joint announcement by Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health advising Rhode Islanders to stay home and avoid all non-essential crowds and also moving up the previously-scheduled April break for K-12 schools to next week, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League regrettably has cancelled all remaining winter tournament games."

"This was a very difficult day for my team," said head coach Joe Andrade. "We have a great group of kids who have achieved many accomplishments. We made it to the Division I Final Four and the statewide Elite 8," said Andrade.

The 2020 version of EPHS boys basketball enjoyed the best season a basketball Townie team has had in 20 years. "The kids proved people wrong all year and believe me they used that as fuel. The big wins we've had and the overflow crowds at our games are examples of this. I know that our school and community are very proud, My coaches and I certainly are," added the Coach.

Before a mostly empty EPHS gymnasium on Thursday night, March 12th, the Townies dominated 20-4 Division 3 champion Lincoln High, 103-82. The fan-restricted game had officials only allowing mostly parents to attend due to the coronavirus pandemic. Traditionally East Providence brings as many and usually more fans to interscholastic games as any school in Rhode Island. So it was certainly disappointing to hundreds of Townie fans that they could not attend the Sweet-16 basketball game. At the divisional final four game against Hendricken at CCRI, close to 1,000 or more Townie fans comprised a standing room only crowd (see photo).

School officials arranged to have the state championship Sweet-16 game on Thursday live-streamed so fans could watch at home. “Because tickets are limited for the Townie basketball playoff game vs. Lincoln, we are offering live stream coverage. Thanks to Asst. Superintendent Dr. Sandra Forand for organizing,” said East Providence Athletic Director Gregg Amore.

The game had a small crowd in the stands but players from both teams played with enthusiasm and didn’t hold back. East Providence, as they have done throughout the playoffs, started a bit slow and led at halftime 49-40. However, the Townies raced ahead in the second half to a blowout 21-point victory. A good portion of the second half saw many of the Townie non-starters in the game. All East Providence players saw action and were enthusiastically cheered on by the usual starters.

Actually, I planned to play some guys off the bench to hopefully wear Lincoln down as I knew they only play 5 guys as a rule. I was hoping our size and depth would wear them down,” said EP head Coach Joe Andrade. “Late in the game I was able to get a few more guys in.”

The Townies were scheduled to advance to the Elite Eight level in the State Championship bracket. However, it seems that the team and many fans knew that the future of the tournament was questionable due to the pandemic. Almost on an hourly basis, events are being postponed or cancelled outright. Finals were to be played at CCRI and at URI’s Ryan Center, but those venues were no longer available to interscholastic playoffs. Rhode Island College was set to hold quarterfinal rounds for basketball this coming weekend but league officials have made all this a moot point by canceling all activities as the Governor has ordered.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

Share!
Truly local news delivered to every home in town