PROVIDENCE —

The third time was not the charm for the East Providence High School boys’ basketball team as the Townies lost their third of three meetings so far this winter to rival LaSalle, the latest encounter coming Tuesday, Feb. 21, on the road in Providence in the Division I Championship Tournament quarterfinals by a 60-49 score.

The host Rams led 17-13 at the end of the first quarter and were never really tested the rest of the way by seventh-seeded East Providence. Second-seeded LaSalle held a 28-17 edge at intermission then 42-31 by the end of the third period.

The Townies, who were particularly efficient in their last few games from the perimeter, had one of their worst shooting nights from the field, going just 12-for-55. East Providence also only shot four free throws and did not reach the bonus in either half.

“We shot the ball terribly. I don’t think we played bad defensively. Every time we made a push, they punched us right back,” said EPHS head coach Joe Andrade. “Credit to them, but to have our worst shooting night of the season at this point in the playoffs wasn’t good. Their size and length hurt us. And not having (Christian) Torres and (Kemerie) Dublin against them especially hurts us.”

Torres and Dublin are both no longer with the squad for various reasons. They were also not available to the team in EP’s 59-53 loss to the Rams in city two weeks ago. LaSalle beat EPHS as well by a 57-56 count in December in Providence.

“I think 100 percent it was how we played. If you don’t make shot, you’re not going to win. It’s as simple as that,” Andrade continued. “Don’t get me wrong. They’re a good team, but maybe if we make some shots it’s a different game.”

Trey Rezendes led the Townies with 21 points in what Andrade said was “one of his better games of the season. He kept us in it.” Will Winfield added 11. East Providence’s two other double-digit scorers Max Collins and Xavier Hazard had eight and two points, respectively.

LaSalle advanced to the league semifinals Thursday, Feb. 23, at neutral site North Kingstown against third-seeded Barrington, 48-43 winners over sixth-seeded Cumberland Tuesday. Top-seeded Hendricken faces fifth-seeded Classical in the other semi at NK. The Hawks beat eighth-seeded Smithfield 62-32 in their quarter while the Purple upset fourth-seeded Central 75-65 in their’s.

For East Providence, its winter of Division I play came to a close with a 12-8 record, including the Townies’ win over Woonsocket in the preliminary round last week.

EPHS has qualified for the upcoming Open State Tournament. Seeding is not set until the division playoffs are finished. At the moment, the Townies could be seeded anywhere between 10th-13th in the state event, which begins Thursday, March 2 with Round of 16 games.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Tyler Maxwell shot the accompanying gallery of photos.