March 28, 2024

Sports Update

Posted

EPHS Boys Win First Mutter Holiday Basketball Clinic
The Townie gymnasium was almost as frigid as the single digit temperature outside as the heating system was not working, but the action inside was pretty hot as East Providence won their own holiday invitational tournament. EP defeated North Providence High on December 27th to move into the championship game of the Harry C. Mutter Holiday Basketball Classic." The Townies played Shea High School for the Tourney title on Thursday, December 28th at East Providence High. In an opening round game Shea High beat Toll Gate 78-55 to gain the final against the Townies. Toll Gate defeated North Providence 77-42 in the consolation game.

The Townies beat back a tough Shea high team in a balanced offensive attack by a final score of 71-60. Tournament MVP, Deyshawn Tengbeh scored 17 points for East Providence. Dion Hazard scored 13, Juston Williams, 12 and Julian Andrade added 11 key points to feature the 4 players in double digits. Tengbeh led Townie scorers throughout the tournament.

In the opening round game, East Providence defeated North Providence 66-55, with Deyshawn Tengbeh scoring 25 points, including three 3-pointers. Clinton Ogunronbi hit for 13 points and Dion Hazard scored 10. Juston Williams had 9 points, Julian Andrade had 6 and Myels Nuey tossed in 3 points to round out the Townie offense. The game's top scorer, however, was Matt Rohelia of North Providence with 33 points. Rohelia also hit on five 3-pointers.

In their opening round game, Shea High defeated Toll Gate 78-55 with 20 points from Erick Bans, 18 from Marquis Gomes and 12 points from Nate Rodrigues.

Shea jumped out on top in the final and led EP early on 13-6 and then 26-16. It looked like Shea was unstoppable but EP chipped their way back. Early on the Townies were only getting one shot at the hoop as Shea grabbed several rebounds of Townie missed shots. Townie head coach Joe Andrade called a time out and adjusted his game plan. "We knew it would be difficult to contain (Shea's) Erickson Bans. After a man defensive we switched to a 3-2 zone and that made the difference," Andrade said after the game. Bans of Shea would lead all scorers with 25 points but was generally slowed down with the zone defense.

After the Townie timeout both the EP offense and defense executed well. The Townies tied the game and then led at the half 38-27. Juston Williams hit on three 3-pointers for EP. The Townies surged ahead and never looked back leading by a 62-45 score with 4:31 minutes left. The final score was an EP 71 to 60 win.

"This was a good tournament for us," added EP coach Andrade. "Shea is a very good team and Ban is a top scorer in the state. These games should help us prepare as we move ahead during the season."

The annual Townie Holiday Tournament has been renamed the Harry C. Mutter Holiday Basketball Classic in honor of the late Harry C. Mutter. Mutter is an EPHS Hall of Fame Inductee as well as a National Softball and Official Hall of Famer. He was a Class of 1962 graduate where his 1962 Townies won the RI State Basketball Championship. He was a standout athlete at EPHS in a few sports, and a 2nd team baseball all-stater. He was the Director of Facilities for the EP School Department and a very active volunteer for many Townie sports events. Mutter was also a longtime school referee in R.I. Mutter was known as one of the nation's most prolific homerun hitters in men's softball. The Basketball Classic is sponsored by the Friends of Townie Athletics (FOTA) volunteer organization. The FOTA provided game trophies, team tourney shirts and pizza for both teams after the game.

Harry Mutter's wife, Patricia Cabral McKinnon was in attendance throughout the tournament. "This was a wonderful tribute," McKinnon said. "Thank you EP Boys Basketball Team for winning the first Harry C. Mutter Holiday Classic. He is smiling down on you right now and is so proud."

Townie's Ron Wilson in U.S. Hockey HOF
East Providence High School was a dominate force in the state's top hockey division in the seventies. One reason was the existence of the Dudley Richard's rink in the city and the other was Ron Wilson. A 1973 graduate of EPHS, Wilson was among, if not the best, hockey player Rhode Island has seen. He played a Bobby Orr style of hockey, playing defense and being a top goal scorer for the champion Townie hockey team. He would be on the ice for almost an entire game at times. He was joined by brothers Brad and Randy in a family of hockey players. Their Dad, Larry Wilson was a coach of the old Rhode Island Reds AHL team.

The Townies won the Met A State and New England hockey championships in 1975. The Wilsons were joined by the Army family of EP. Tom, Bill and Tim Army were also dominate hockey players in EP and Rhode Island and later in college. Tim Army went on to be a head coach at Providence College. The Army's grandfather, Tom, was the head athletic trainer for the R.I. Reds.

In the sixties and seventies most talented hockey players in the state went to Mount St. Charles and LaSalle. But public schools like East Providence and Cranston East held their own. The Wilsons were a big reason for the Townies success. Ron Wilson would thrill R.I. crowds with his defensive steals and rink-length rushes generally resulting in a goal. Hockey games were standing room only at Richard's Rink and many times EP - LaSalle or EP- Mt. St. Charles games were moved to the old R.I. Auditorium on North Main Street.

Wilson went on to become one of the greatest players ever at Providence College where he was twice named an All-American. At Providence College he led the nation one year with 87 points on 26 goals and 61 assists in just 26 games. He was ECAC player of the year. With 250 career points, he holds the NCAA scoring record for defensemen, as well as the PC record for points.

After graduating from PC Wilson began an 11 year pro career playing in the NHL and Europe. Upon retiring as a player, Wilson spent the next 15 seasons as an NHL head coach with Vancouver, Anaheim, Washington, San Jose and Toronto. He has also coached a number of USA Hockey National teams highlighted by the 1996 World Cup of Hockey team that he lead to victory over Team Canada. Wilson and the World Cup team he coached was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.

Wilson's 648 regular-season wins are the most among American coaches. His teams recorded more than 100 regular-season points four times. He currently ranks 10th among all NHL coaches in career victories.

Through the years Ron Wilson often credited former EPHS hockey coach and later principal, Joe Sprague, with much of his success. "We got into the playoffs in my sophomore year and the only way that we were going to survive was if I converted from center to defense. So Joe made me a defenseman. In fact, I never got off the ice. It was the best decision that anybody ever made in my hockey career,″ Wilson told area press before his induction.

At one point Ron, Brad and Randy played together at Providence College. On occasion a PC fan could hear the announcer say, "PC goal by Wilson, assisted by Wilson and Wilson!" Many at Providence College credit the Wilson's and Army's with getting the new hockey rink built on campus. After high school Wilson was offered the chance to play at any college in America and chose PC.

Ron Wilson, 62, resides in South Carolina and suffered a stroke last year. He has been recuperating and was able to attend his Hall of Fame Induction and deliver a speech. Wilson married his "high school sweetheart" Maureen Glynn Wilson. While in high school, Glynn, a 1972 graduate, was a popular cheerleading captain.

Wilson was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Wednesday December 13th in Boston, MA.

Bay View Hilary Switzer Coach of the Year
Bay View Field Hockey coach, Hilary Switzer, was named the Division I 2017 Coach of the Year by the Rhode Island Field Hockey Coaches Association (RIFHCA). Switzer received her award at a November 15, 2017 ceremony.

The Bay View Bengals finished the 2016-2017 season with the best record in many years under the leadership of Coach Switzer (7W-10L). When she took over the program in 2014, the Bengals had had a winless season the year prior; now in her third year Coach Switzer has taken the program to fifth place in Division I and the fifth seed in the RI Interscholastic 2017 League (RIIL) Playoffs.

In response to being named Coach of the Year, Switzer stated, “It is an honor to be recognized for something I love to do. Coaching is something that has been a part of my entire adult life, and I wouldn’t know what to do otherwise. I am thankful that I get to work with student athletes who want to learn and have passion for what they do. Finishing the season in 5th place this year and making it to playoffs was a team effort from the athletes, my Assistant Coach Meg Voyer, AD Jen Wasson, and the Bay View community. I am proud to be named the Division I 2017 Coach of the Year.” In addition to coaching Field Hockey, Switzer is a Physical Education teacher and the coach for the Lacrosse and Swim Teams at Bay View. She is a resident of Woonsocket, RI.

Jennifer Wasson, Bay View’s Athletic Director, praised Switzer, saying, “Over the last three seasons it has been fun watching Coach Switzer build and establish a very competitive Division I Field Hockey Program in Rhode Island. We are truly blessed to have her leadership and commitment not only to athletics but also for the St. Mary Academy Bay View community. She takes great pride in developing strong, confident and skilled young women on and off the field. Coach Switzer has earned the respect of her peers, and we are excited she has been recognized as the RIFHCA 2017 Coach of the Year. I am grateful she is our teammate; we are fortunate to have someone of her talents guiding and leading three programs at St. Mary Academy-Bay View."

St. Mary Academy - Bay View is an independent Catholic School for girls open to all faiths, Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12, located on Pawtucket Avenue in East Providence, Rhode Island.

EPHS Boys Basketball December Results to Date
Juanita Sanchez: 55East Providence: 64
Hendricken: 70East Providence: 44
East Providence: 40North Kingstown: 70
South Kingstown 84East Providence 65
East Providence 71Coventry 61
Schedule Away Home
Thu 1/04 -7:00 pm Cranston West East Providence
Mon 1/08 -7:00 pm Classical East Providence
Wed 1/10 -7:00 pm East Providence Central
Fri 1/12 -7:00 pm East Providence Hope
Tue 1/16 -7:00 pm East Providence Cranston East
Fri 1/19 -7:00 pm East Providence Woonsocket
Mon 1/22 -7:00 pm Smithfield East Providence
Thu 1/25 -7:00 pm East Providence St. Raphael
Fri 1/26 -7:00 pm La Salle East Providence
Tue 1/30 -6:00 pm East Providence Mount Pleasant
Tue 2/06 -6:00 pm East Providence Classical
Tue 2/06 -7:00 pm Central East Providence
Fri 2/09 -7:00 pm Hope East Providence
Mon 2/12 -7:00 pm Cranston East East Providence

EPHS Girls Basketball
The Townies defeated Prout 64-38 and beat Rogers 49-39 in December.
Schedule:
Wed 1/03 -7:00 pmExeter/West Greenwich at East Providence
Fri 1/05 -7:00 pmMiddletown at East Providence
Mon 1/08 -5:30 pmEast Providence at Narragansett
Wed 1/10 -7:00 pmWest Warwick at East Providence
Fri 1/12 -7:00 pmChariho at East Providence
Mon 1/15 -7:00 pmEast Providence at Pilgrim
Wed 1/17 -7:00 pmJohnston at East Providence
Fri 1/19 -6:30 pmEast Providence at Mount St. Charles
Wed 1/24 -7:00 pmWoonsocket at East Providence
Fri 1/26 -12:00 amEast Providence at Tolman
Tue 1/30 -6:00 pmEast Providence at Juanita Sanchez
Fri 2/02 -6:00 pmScituate at East Providence
Mon 2/05 -7:00 pmEast Providence at Ponaganset
Thu 2/08 -7:00 pmLincoln at East Providence
Fri 2/09 -5:30 pmEast Providence at Wheeler
Tue 2/13 -7:00 pmWesterly at East Providence

Bay View Basketball
Bay View defeated Rogers, Barrington and Portsmouth last month while losing to Moses Brown and Johnston.
Schedule:
Date Away Home
Wed 1/03 -7:00 pm Bay View St. Raphael
Fri 1/05 -7:00 pm Cumberland Bay View
Sun 1/07 -2:30 pm Bay View La Salle
Wed 1/10 -12:00 pm Smithfield Bay View
Fri 1/12 -7:00 pm Bay View Cranston East
Tue 1/16 -12:00 am Cranston W. Bay View
Wed 1/17 -7:00 pm Coventry Bay View
Fri 1/19 -7:00 am Moses Brown Bay View
Mon 1/22 -7:00 pm Bay View Barrington
Fri 1/26 -7:00 pm Bay View Portsmouth
Tue 1/30 -7:00 pm St. Raphael Bay View
Fri 2/02 -7:00 pm Bay View East Greenwich
Mon 2/05 -7:00 pm North King. Bay View
Wed 2/07 -7:00 pm Bay View South Kingstown
Fri 2/09 -9:00 pm Coventry Bay View
Mon 2/12 -5:30 pm Bay View Lincoln School

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