Eastbayri.com

EAST PROVIDENCE — The playoff aspirations of the East Providence High School boys’ basketball team neared their end after the Townies suffered a 57-46 loss to visiting North Kingstown in a Division I crossover contest played in city Tuesday night, Feb. 7.

East Providence saw its record drop to 4-10 in the I-East standings. The Townies face the unenviable task of winning their final four games to qualify for the upcoming Open State Tournament. North improved to 12-2 in the I-South ranks and is vying with defending champ St. Raphael, LaSalle and Central for the overall No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Tuesday night, the Skippers gradually extended their lead once they went out in front just under three minutes into the contest. North Kingstown’s edge would reach a high of 14 and remain in double figures until the Townies made a late run to trail by just seven (30-23) at the break.

The Skippers, however, regained their form early in the second half. North used another early run to build a 20-point spread about four minutes in and wasn’t truly threatened the rest of the way.

Evan Scott led a balanced Skippers’ attack with 10 points. Michael Scott and Matt Quainoo each added nine. Lucas Nunez chipped in eight and Chris Hess seven. Jawaan Lyles was the lone Townie to approach double figures, netting a game-best 17. John Resendes added six.

“There’s really not much to say,” said E.P. head coach Alex Butler. “It’s a seven-point game at halftime. We probably had 10 or 12 turnovers in the first half against their 1-3-1, which we practiced against the last two days.

“Three times early in the second half we don’t locate in transition and they make 3s. They build their lead back to 18 or so in a hurry and the game is basically over.”

Lyles kept the Townies in game briefly early, knocking down a couple of mid-range jumpers and a nifty scoop shot in the paint.

North, however, began to exert itself at about that time at both ends of the floor. The Skippers doubled up E.P., 17-7, in reserve center Owen Heath’s layup. Heath, who scored five for the night, later made one free throw to up North’s lead to 23-9 with just over six minutes left in the first half.

The Skippers maintained their double-digit edge until the final minute of the period before Resendes hit a couple of shots, including a 3-pointer from the corner, to slice the Townies’ deficit to just five (28-23). Scott, however, sank a layup as time expired to give the visitors their seven-point margin at intermission.

Nunez started North’s early second half run with a triple from the wing. Justin Pratt later came off the bench and canned another another from distance, which helped the Skippers regain their commanding lead, 45-25, with around 12 minutes to go.

The Townies begin their must-win, season-ending stretch of games on the road against 7-7 Coventry Thursday night, Feb. 9, at 7 o’clock.

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EPHS girls fall

East Providence High School’s hold on one of the final playoff spots out of the Division I-North girls’ ranks took another hit Tuesday night, Feb. 7, when the Townies suffered a 59-48 loss to host Smithfield.

The Sentinels closed the contest on a 13-1 run over the final 90-plus seconds. E.P. actually held a slight, 47-46 lead when Bianca Vails sank a free throw. Smithfield answered with two fouls shots to regain the lead for keeps.

The Townies then missed on four opportunities from within 15 feet of the goal over two possessions before the Sentinels drained a 3-pointer to solidify their edge. Smithfield eventually closed out the win back at the charity stripe.

“Our kids played as hard as they could. I’m really proud of them,” said E.P. head coach Mike Solitro.

The Townies were minus the services of injured point guard Shania Connor for the entire game. Forward Taylor Wiggins was lost late in the first half to a nasty knock on the head after scoring eight points. Alyssa Dias led the locals with 15. Brittany Crosby added 11 and Vails nine.

E.P. dropped to 5-8 in the I-North standings. The Sentinels improved to 8-6. The Townies are in Pawtucket against 5-7 St. Raphael Friday night, Feb. 10, at 7.

Bay View wins again

The St. Mary Academy-Bay View girls’ basketball team won for the 14th time without a loss in Division I-North action as the Bengals defeated Woonsocket, 54-40 Tuesday night, Feb. 7.

Rachel Battista led the locals with 19 points. Christina Palavra added 12 and seven rebounds. The Bengals held Novan’s leading scorer Kayley Fugere to 18 points.

“We didn’t play well, but we got the win,” said Bay View head coach Doug Haynes, whose team entered the game winning by an average of 36 points per game.

The Bengals are back in action Friday night, Feb. 9, at home in East Providence against 9-4 Barrington at 7 o’clock.

BHS boys fall

At home Tuesday night, the playoff-bound Barrington High School boys’ basketball squad dropped a 53-48 decision to visiting and first-place West Warwick in a Division II crossover contest against the II-South leading Wizards.

The Eagles trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and couldn’t recover, according to head coach Pat Sullivan. Ben Engvall led the locals with 19 points. Jesse Browne and Corey Daugherty each added nine. Barrington dropped to 8-6 in the II-East ranks. The Wizards improved to 13-1.

The Eagles take to the road Friday night, Feb. 10, against Narragansett at 7.

Mt. Hope boys win

The Mt. Hope High School boys’ cagers picked up a 61-54 victory over Davies Monday night, Feb. 6. The Huskies, minus the services of four contributors, managed to pull away in the second half after the score was tied at 32 at intermission.

Mt. Hope’s 3-point shooting led the way Mike Head and Brett DaCosta each had four treys as part of their 14-point nights. Kyle Valenzuela drained two from downtown and finished with a team-best 16 points.

The Huskies improved to 4-10 in the Division III-South standings with the victory. The locals are back in action Wednesday night, Feb. 8, at home against Middletown at 7 o’clock.