EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School boys’ basketball team began its 2022-23 Division I regular season slate last week with a split of two games, including an agonizingly close loss to host and rival LaSalle, 57-56, Tuesday night, Dec. 13, in its opener.

The Townies trailed by as many as 11 on the evening, including a nine-point deficit at halftime. The locals, however, rallied in the second half to tie and eventually briefly hold the lead before the Rams edged back in front for keeps late.

The end-game sequence included EPHS with the ball and down a point, but the Townies proceeded to turn it over back to LaSalle.

The Rams later missed a pair of free throws that would have given them breathing room in the closing seconds.

However, the Townies were unable to get off a shot before the final buzzer sounded.

Xavier Hazard finished with a team-best 23 points for EPHS. Max Collins added 18. Kenaz Ochogwu chipped in six. The Townies’ other potent offensive weapon, Trey Rezendes, was held to just four points.

Two nights later in city, East Providence led tip to finish in a 60-48 victory over East Greenwich.

The Townies netted the first bucket of the game, Kemerie Dublin layup, and did not trail the rest of the way, though the visiting Avengers did make things a bit interesting in the fourth quarter.

East Providence built a 15-9 lead at the end of one, the final points coming on a Brandyn Van Wagner rebound-putback.

Four late points by Hazard just prior to intermission helped the Townies take a 27-23 lead to the locker room.

Out of the break, the Avengers scored the first three points of the third period to their deficit to one, but that’s as close as they would get.

East Providence got the next six in a row to surge to a 33-26. The Townies, in fact, would outscore E.G. 23-10 in the quarter to build a comfortable 50-33 lead. Collins had 10 in the period, including eight over the final three minutes.

Two Dublin buckets to begin the fourth upped East Providence’s lead to a high of 54-33 before the Townies went to their bench, which couldn’t quite maintain the expansive margin.

The Avengers ripped off a 13-0 run with the E.P. subs in the game.

A Rezendes pull-up jumper from just inside the lane finally ended the spree and stabilized the Townies, would score the next six to see out their pesky guests.

“We didn't shoot well, but I was stressing to play defense and we did. When the shots don't fall, get a steal, get an easy basket and we did that,” said EPHS head coach Joe Andrade.

He added, “E.G. plays hard. They aren't bad at all. They shoot well and we held them to 48 points while we only hit two 3s and still won, which isn’t bad.”

Rezendes and Collins shared team-high honors for EPHS with 15 points apiece. Dublin had 12 and Hazard 10.

Rees Maccarone led the Avengers with a game-best 16 points. Will Erickson had 15 and Javien David seven, all in the second half. E.G. made five 3s to the Townies’ pair.

East Providence is back in action Monday night, Dec. 19, when the Townies travel to Narragansett for a league outing against the host Mariners. Tip-off is  set for 7 o'clock.

As for the first week and a look ahead to the road date against the Mariners, Andrade said, “We’re in a subdivision that is very competitive with LaSalle and E.G. Narragansett is struggling, but they're down a few guys, but they aren't a push over.