Winter Sports Coming to a Close

EPHS Boys Basketball
Townies lose quarterfinal Division 1 game; Enter Open State Championship Round

The Townies boys basketball team started on the road to the Division I state playoffs with an opening round decisive victory over Woonsocket High last month by a 77-46 score.  In the opening round game at EPHS on a rainy and snowy night, a packed house saw an entertaining game.  “We started a little shaky but Woonsocket is here to play, here to win,” said Townie head coach Joe Andrade after the game.  Indeed, Woonsocket hit several of their early shots in a quick perimeter passing strategy while Ep missed a few shots of their own.  However, the Townies quickly figured it out after the score ended in a 17-17 tie after one quarter.  “It was our defense,” said Andrade.  “We made a few adjustments, we rebounded well and defensively we picked it up.”  The Townies held Woonsocket to just 6 points in 23 attempts in the second quarter.

The Townies crashed the boards and while the defense began to dominate, the scoring gap widened as the offense clicked.  “We started to get our chemistry back.  Max (Collins) only returned (injury) recently and others who were sidelined are back. This is what we’ve been missing, without Max in the lineup.”  There were many positives from tonight, many. 

Max Collins led all scorers and provided the offensive spark with 24 points including 5 three-point baskets. “If Max plays like he did (tonight) we have a shot in this tourney,” Andrade said.  Xavier Hazard added a key 15 points with 3 three-pointers and tossing in 14 points was Trey Rezendes including a key three-pointer down the stretch.  Other Townie scorers were Kenaz Ochqwu 7 points, William Winfield 5 points with Javaan Gonsalves, Franklin Lopez, Derrell Liggins and Tyler Gomez each scoring 3 points.  Gonsalves, Liggins, Gomez and Winfield each added a three-pointer. EP tossed in 13 three-pointers for the game.  The Townies also hit on 8 of 10 free throw attempts.  “Now it’s on to LaSalle in the quarterfinals.  As the 7th seed, we get LaSalle next,” smiled Andrade.

In that LaSalle Division I quarterfinal match on Tuesday, February 21st at LaSalle, the highly favored Rams were too much for East Providence.  When East Providence and LaSalle played at LaSalle in Providence back in December, the Townies lost to LaSalle by one point at the game ending buzzer.  The quarterfinal match was not that close.  LaSalle would go on and later defeat Hendricken for the Division 1 championship.  

In an attempt to involve more schools in post season play, the interscholastic league schedules division championships and an open championship which allows all schools to participate.  East Providence draws another tough opponent in a first round game against Classical High.  “Well, drawing Classical is an extremely tough draw, they are one of the better teams in the state when they are healthy, which they are now,” said Townie Head Coach Joe Andrade.  “We have had an up and down year with injuries and kids leaving the team for educational reasons. We have a chance to win, we just need to play hard, rebound, and execute.”  Indeed, when the Townies play well in all aspects of the game, they are a formidable team. Boys Basketball will be in the state open tournament for the 7th year in a row.  Some post season awards:  Xavier hazard, 1^st team all-league and division; Trey Rezendes, 1^st team all-division, 2^nd team all-league; Jay Gonsalves and Will Winfield, 2^nd team all-division.  The open championship tourney will be ongoing as The Reporter is in the mail.  Reporter online will update readers.

EPHS Wrestlers Compete in States
The Townie wrestling team finished in 11^th place in a field of 36 Rhode Island high schools at the end of February.  The team made a good showing in the Rhode Island Interscholastic state championships the last weekend in February. The tournament was held at the Providence Career & Technical Academy. Going into the stretch finals run the Townies behind veteran coach Tom Galligan were in 8th place out of 36 high schools. “Martim Moniz is in the semifinals trying to punch his ticket to the finals this morning,” said assistant coach and former Townie star wrestler, Mario Peoples. “The same is true for Jacob Poore and Robbie Amaral. Fighting for third place are Mathew Marlow, Simon Palumbo, Charles Phillips, Jordan Carl and Evin Decker.”

“The entire team is wrestling great with the East Providence mentality of a big heart effort and an undying will to win,” added Peoples.  Qualifying Wrestlers were Ferhat Akdemir, Robert Amaral, Jorden Carl, Steven Clark, Evin Decker, Brady DeRoy, Machar Francis, Matthew Marlow, Martim Moniz, Simon Palumbo, Charles Phillips, Jacob Poore and Jonathan Raposo.

Townie Swimmers Team Doing Well
The EPHS Swim Team season was overall successful according to coach Bob Hassan.  “Although the girls team had a record of 2 wins and 4 losses, the two victories were the first victories in several years.  The team nearly won a third meet when a meet against Pilgrim High School came down to the final relay.  Unfortunately, the team did not win the relay and lost the meet by 4 points.  First year swimmers Aalina Amoros, Jayla Dagraca, Cassie Dulude and Maggie Robinson were an essential part of the team.  Due to illnesses, the girls team finished in 6th place at the Division 4 Championship,” said coach Hassan.

Junior Ines Benadouda qualified for the RIIL Swimming State Championships, the 100 Butterfly with the time of 1:02.88 and will compete in that event Saturday, March 4th at Brown University. 

The boy's finished the dual meet season with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss.  “Their only loss was to Blackstone Valley Prep.  The team had an exciting victory over Providence Country Day School with the meet coming down to the final relay.  The Townies won the relay and were able to capture the victory by 1 point.  Junior Nick Capobianco lead the team with great swimming all season and led the team to a 3rd place finish at the Division Championships.  Capobianco qualified for the RIIL Swimming State Championships in the 200 Individual Medley with a time of 2:16. 33 and the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:00.67.  Both personal best times,” added Hassan.

EPHS Swim Roster: Aalina  Amoros, Seleny Arevalo, Ines Benadouda, Jayla Dagraca, Cassie Dulude, Emma LeDuc, Margaret Robinson, Mason Adams, Kevin Bettencourt, Ryan  Branch, Nick Capobianco, London Coogan, Marco Cordeiro, Gavin Hanley and Slate Vandal.

BayView basketball
Bay View basketball played well in the state playoffs with a strong win over Ponagansett 52-47.  In that game, Ahtiana Benway hit on six 3-pointers for a total of 20 points.  Teammate Cece Baptista threw in 16 points to help with the Bengal win.  However Bay View lost out to eventual state champion Juanita Sanchez.

EPHS Girls Basketball
It was just a fair year for the Lady Townies who finished with just 3 wins on the season in a tough Division I.  However, the team had their moments when losing several games by close scores.  The Townies only graduated two seniors and show signs of maturing into a competitive team next season.  They are also counting on the incoming players from two good middle school teams.

EPHS Gymnastics
The second-year co-op gymnastics team from EPHS/Rogers competed in the Rhode Island State Championships last month.  The squad continues to build on their skills and confidence. The 6-member squad continues to impress with a co-op team of East Providence and Rogers high schools.  Senior Captain Makena Petsch continues to contribute in the all-around and add more difficulty to her routines. Brettyn Newsome, senior captain from Rogers, has greatly improved on vault and added difficulty to her bar and beam routines to help increase her scores. MK Boudreau, a senior from EP, is a newcomer this year and has worked hard to compete in the all-around. Her floor routine is a crowd pleaser and she has become more consistent with her skills. Lily McKenna (freshman, Rogers) competed a new vault to add to the lineup. Jade Taswell (freshman, EP) had a huge improvement in her floor score. 

The Townies Carter Bessette qualified to compete in the floor exercise and scored an 8.15.  The eventual overall winner from Kingston scored a 9.3.  “Carter a sophomore, has really stepped up this year,” said coach Casey Rapp. “Last year as a freshman, she only competed on floor. This year, she has consistently competed in the all-around and become our leading scorer.”

EPHS Indoor Track
The East Providence Girls Indoor track 2x200m relay team. As they broke the high school record set back in 1994. They ran an excellent race and time 1:50.29

The Boys Indoor Team finished 6th in the tough Metro Divisionals. Kit Ruddock placed third in the 300 and 4th in the 55.  Dylan Slavick and Cameron Evora tied for third in the High Jump and the 4x200 team of David Vieira Lucas Santa Cruz, Kwam Gillard and Kit Ruddock placed 4th.  It was a solid day for the Boys. In the State Championship Kit Ruddock won the 300 meter.  He won three of four meets.  The Townies Kenaz Ochgwu cleared 5’10” in the high jump.