March 29, 2024

Townies reach Final Four Boys Basketball from a field of over 40 R.I. high schools.

Play Hendricken Saturday at URI in 6 pm clash. Bay View also in Final Four

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The unpredictable but very athletic East Providence High boys’ basketball team has reached the Final Four championship after qualifying for the statewide tournament and then defeating Classical 51-47 in the Sweet-16 and Smithfield 71-66 in the elite-8. The upstart 11-7 Townies drew the 17-1 Hendricken Hawks in Saturday night’s semifinal. The winner plays the winner of the 17-1 LaSalle-Middletown game for the championship on Sunday at 6 pm. LaSalle-Middletown play Saturday at 4 pm. All games this weekend are played at the URI Ryan Center.

The Townies are the decided underdog in the Final Four, but don’t tell that to EP head coach Joe Andrade. “When we’re healthy and play the way we know how to, we can win games,” said Andrade. “Right now, we’re healthy and are coming off two big playoff wins. We will show up and work hard.” The Townies lost out to Hendricken in the 2021 playoffs and lost a one-point game at LaSalle earlier in the season. Joe Andrade was selected as Coach of the Year in RI in 2017, his first year coaching Townie basketball. Andrade is relatively calm when on the sidelines, preferring to work his team hard during practice. “URI is a big venue, we are fast and athletic, but Hendricken is big, strong and will be a challenge for us.” Many in Rhode Island basketball circles find the Townies an interesting team. “Right now, EP may be the team that nobody wants to play.”

East Providence players and supporters are hoping that the community comes out to cheer on their Townies on Saturday. Set your clocks, Townies. Game time is 6 pm at URI’s Ryan Center. Tickets are not sold at the door and can be purchased on line at: tickets@theryancenter.com 

Also playing in the weekend Final Four is Bay View Academy from East Providence. Bay View takes on Rogers High at 12 noon Saturday at the Ryan Center. The winner will play in the championship game Sunday at 3:30 pm against the winner of the Ponagansett-North Kingstown game played at 2 pm on Saturday.

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