EAST PROVIDENCE — The just completed 2018-19 seasons for the respective East Providence High School basketball teams proved unsatisfying for both, though for differing reasons.
The EPHS boys’ squad, for just the third time since the inception of the Open State Tournament nine years ago, qualified for it and the Division I championship playoffs in the same season, but was eliminated early in each and eventually ended the winter with a 12-13 overall record.
On the girls’ side, the Townies suffered through a tumultuous season, one in which they went through a mid-year coaching change, finished winless in their return to the Division I ranks and settled for a final record of 2-19.
Boys’ notes
Third-year EPHS boys’ head coach Joe Andrade took a philosophical approach when reviewing the 18-19 campaign, acknowledging there were positives and negatives about his group that went 9-9 in the league and defeated Classical before falling to Cranston East in the D-I tourney. E.P. later lost to Cumberland in the preliminary round of the state event.
“I look at it two ways. I felt we underachieved overall, but when you step back and look at it, to be honest, (senior guard) Dion (Hazard) was our only returning impact player,” Andrade said. “The rest of the guys were mostly juniors who didn’t play varsity before. It takes a year to get accustomed to the speed and physicality of the game at this level, but they improved by the end of the season.”
Hazard led the Townies in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game. He also became just the fifth EPHS male player to reach the 1,000 point career plateau. Senior center Mitchel Noresca, playing his first full varsity season, also averaged double figures at 10.1 ppg.
The rest of the EPHS output came from a core group of juniors who are expected back in the fold next year. R.J. Pina averaged 9.7 ppg, Josh Kauffman 9.6, Justin Pena 6.8, Zach Russell 4.9, Tyler Lima 4.4 and Matt DosSantos 2.8.
“I know these are going to play, going to get better,” Andrade said of the proposed returnees. “They played all last offseason. I know these guys are going to work at it, be better by next season.”
In the coach’s estimation, the Townies need to improve in two specific areas: leadership and ambition. Andrade said he wants the EPHS program to become more like that at North Kingstown, which is perennially among the top sides in the state. He also said the Townies need someone or a couple of players to take the place of Hazard as their guide on and off the court.
“My goal is to be like N.K., winning and competing for the championship every year,” Andrade explained. “But for some reason we just can’t get over the top. I want us to be one of the teams that aren’t just fared, don’t just be tough to play against, but that actually wins meaningful games.”
He continued, “To be honest, I think it’s a mindset. Kids like (Nevin) Blanco at Cranston East, (Dwayne) O’Hagan at Woonsocket, they don’t allow their teams to lose. That’s the mindset we need to have. We need someone to step up, be more vocal. We lack leadership, but you can’t force someone to be a leader. My hope is that one of the guys steps up to take over that role from Dion next year.”
In the end, Andrade said he saw more plusses than minuses from the 2018-19 season and like most coaches is already eagerly looking ahead to the 19-20 campaign.
“We were really trying to do two things this year. We were trying to win, but also trying to prepare for next year,” Andrade added. “ We got all those juniors a lot of varsity experience, so nothing should surprise them next year.”
Correction
Pina scored 15 points in the Townies’ Open State Tourney playoff game against Cumberland. His total was incorrectly reported in the March 7 edition of The Post.
Girls’ notes
The EPHS girls, too, have a core group of younger players expected to be back next winter, when the Townies are hopefully either more prepared to compete in Division I or best case scenario are moved back to their former home of Division II.
East Providence Director of Athletics Gregg Amore has already petitioned the Interscholastic League about the change in leagues, but it is unclear if the state administrators are willing to make the shift before the next round of realignment takes place in time for the start of the 2020-21 season.
Interim head coach Rob Traverse, who took over the reins from Russ Ferry at about the mid-point of this winter, said a change in leagues would certainly behoove the Townies, formerly among the best teams in D-II, next year. Ferri, named the EPHS head coach in the fall of 2017, requested a leave of absence and is not expected to return.
“The first thing is I truly did appreciate the work the kids put in and the effort they gave. It was just unfair to them to be in this division,” said Traverse, who was assisted by former EPHS girls’ hoops head coach Bill McEnery for the final 11 games of the season. “For example, we were down to LaSalle 43-5 at the half. That’s demoralizing. But our last game, we lost to Wheeler in overtime (51-48), but it was fun. Every possession mattered. The kids had fun competing with a team they were on a par with.”
Senior Emma DaSilva led the Townies in scoring at 9.8 ppg. Savannah Feola and Tanya Cooper were two other upperclassman the coach lauded for their leadership and attitude in spite of the tough terrain.
“I appreciated the seniors on the team because those kids have had three different head coaches, they’ve gone to a state final (2017 Division II) and now went 0-18,” said Traverse. “You couldn’t have more different years than they did. They’ve seen a lot and experienced a lot.”
Traverse, the long-time and successful EPHS softball head coach and for the last several years an assistant athletic director, admitted the losing was difficult for him as well, but he admired his players willingness to practice hard each day and make a go of it during games.
“Coach McEnery and I appreciated the effort given by the girls because it was a very difficult situation for everybody,” Traverse said. “They had to learn not only new basketball plays, but also the demeanor of the coaches and what we expected of them, how to comport themselves on and off the court. And then throw in the fact we were doing it in D-I, it made it that much more difficult.”
As for the future, Traverse did not rule out returning as the head coach of the girls’ hoops team next winter. Whoever the next coach is, Traverse believes he or she could construct a solid team around a group of impressive underclassman. Freshman Makiah Denson averaged 8.1 ppg this winter. Arianna Soares (6.4), Kayla Hannon, Jaliyah Da Cruz, Grace Watson and Haily Kaiser are the other youngsters Traverse said show potential.
“We have some good ninth graders,” Traverse said. “They’re going to be good players if, A, we can keep them in the program and, B, if we can develop their skills. But when you’re constantly running into superior teams, with eight or nine really good players, it’s going to be tough. If we’re still in D-I, it’s going to be difficult.”