EP Townies Lose Doubleheader in Playoff Action

Girls and Boys Basketball Teams Fall in Upsets

EPHS Girls Basketball

Johnston High School penetrated the Townie defense much of the afternoon and made the most of their scoring opportunities in a 49-45 win over East Providence. In the first of a playoff doubleheader played at East Providence High on Sunday, February 22, the higher ranked Lady Townies were eliminated. The Townies looked fine at first but with 4 minutes left in the first half, Johnston moved ahead with a 16-14 lead. However on an Angie Leonardo skillful drive and score the Townies tied the game. A couple of steals by the EP defense and three unanswered baskets East Providence went ahead 20-16.

The teams traded baskets and with 1:35 left in the first half, Johnston took a 21-20 lead. EP got tough on defense the next play and wrestled down a tough rebound but missed a shot on their end of the court. Johnston sensing a Townie surge called a timeout and then was sent to the foul line. With the Panthers missing foul shots the teams scrummed on the floor for a loose ball. As the 1st half ended Jordan Moretti grabbed the ball and while falling to the court threw up a shot and scored putting her Panthers up at the buzzer 22-21.

As the second half began, Johnston and East Providence traded baskets until the Panthers began to pull away. Late in the game Leonardo hit on a three-point play to tie the score at 41 but EP continued to miss some key opportunities to score. With 30 seconds left Johnston led 47-41 and the crowd sense a possible comeback by EP but it wouldn't happen. A couple of scores by the Panthers and Johnston took the game 49-45. Shaniah Hazard and Angela Leonardo both had 13 points each in the losing effort by EP. After the game Coach Mike Solittro would cite the Townies missed opportunities to score and to also take advantage of some good defensive plays by his team. "We're disappointed that we are done for the year but this was a good team with some great wins this year."

EPHS Boys Basketball:

Surging Central High School came into the Townie gym as underdogs against the highly favored East Providence boys team but surprised the large crowd with a win to move to the quarter final round against Classical High on Tuesday at Classical. EP started well and had a 15-8 lead with 10:38 left in the first half. The Knights, seeded at 12, defeated the 5th seeded Townies 64-59. Jarron Santos hit on a three-pointer and the Townies were at an 18-9 lead. Shortly thereafter Central hit a three-pointer and with about 6 minutes left in the 1st half EP led 24-19. The teams traded baskets and Central closed the gap as EP led 25-23 on a nifty Knights layup.

However, Adam Duarte - who played a good game - made the score 28-23 with a long three-point basket. But back to back steals by a tightened up Central defense, followed by opportunistic scoring, gave the Knights a 31-28 lead. The Central crowd could sense a momentum change. A three-point Central basket by Dion Price and the Knights led at the half 34-31.
Central continued to play inspired basketball as the score moved to 40-36 after a couple of nifty baskets.EP would inch back but Price hit on another three-pointer and the Knights would get to a 10 point lead at 50-40.

The Townies got back in the game on a Kyerstan Casey three-pointer as Central led 53-47. Adam Duarte hit on two foul shots followed by a Zacaree Veiga free throw and EP was closely trailing 53-50. With 3:43 left in the game the large EP crowd roared as Marcus McCarthy hit on a three-pointer to tie the game at 56. But Central never gave up as Dion Price drove for the basket, head faked the EP defense and made a quick move to the basket scoring on a layup to tie the score at 59 with 45 seconds left.

After Central went ahead in a wild finish, EP was forced to foul Central and the Knights ultimately beat EP 64-59. The Townies had many shot attempts go 'in and out' of the rim and had some difficulty penetrating a determined Central defense. After the game Townie veteran coach Alex Butler would acknowledge that "Central was hungrier, they seemed to want the game more than we did."

The Townies good overall record will put them in the full open division playoff where they will play for the title among all high school teams. Jarron Santos led EP with 22 points, Adam Duarte had 11 and Devante Rose chipped in 11 points for the Townies. Dion Price scored 15 and Jeremy Remigio had 11 for Central. Central's Quoi Livingston tossed in 9 points for the Knights.