EAST PROVIDENCE — If their Injury Fund meeting was any indication, the East Providence and Tiverton High School boys' basketball teams are in for exciting seasons.

The host Townies and Tigers got their seasons underway Thursday night, Dec. 8, in a non-league game that ended with East Providence winning an overtime thriller, 57-56.

It the first half, despite missed opportunities, East Providence took a 30-18 lead into the locker room. After the quick break, both sides picked up the pace of play as Tiverton hit keys shots down the stretch to force the game into the extra period with the score tied at 47. During the four minute overtime period, the Townies took a commanding 57-50 lead. Despite a late run by the Tigers, E.P. prevailed with a one-point victory.

“I knew it was going to be a close game,” EPHS head coach Joe Andrade said in his first game as head coach. “Tiverton came out and played really hard. Plus, this team is brand new and they are playing in front of their friends out here so I knew this was going to happen.”

To begin the game, neither team scored in the first minute and a half until Tiverton’s Stephen Gacioch hit a hook shot to get the Tigers on the board. The two teams continued to trade shot after shot until the Townies opted to go their bench. Kyerstan Casey proceeded to light a spark in E.P’s offensive efforts as the Townies went on a 7-3 run to the put them up 14-8. After a timeout, Casey hit three of his 17 total points to up the Townies’ lead to 21-8. Tiverton’s offensive woes continued until Tyler Murray hit a shot and a free throw to shrink the Townies’ lead to 30-18 before the half.

To begin the second half of action, the Tigers came out on fire as Murray lead a 8-3 run to bring Tiverton within three of E.P. before the Townies called a timeout. With just eight minutes left in regulation, things got testy between the two teams as a couple physical plays after the whistle led to the referees issuing warnings to both coaches. When the game resumed, a goal tending call on E.P. tied the game at 36.

As the game proceeded to under four minutes to play, a technical foul was issued on the Townies which allowed the Tigers to cut their deficit to 43-40. Casey continued to lift his team time and time again as a corner three gave E.P. a 46-45 lead with 1:45 left on the clock.

“Once he gets a feel for the guys he is playing with he should be our leader going forward,” Coach Andrade said.

Free throws from both teams tied the game at 47 with 54 seconds left. Despite chances for both sides, neither tam earned a quality shot as the game went to overtime. In the extra time, the Townies came out hot as points from Casey and David Ogunronbi lifted E.P. to a 57-50 lead. Tiverton proceeded to storm back as Erick Souza hit a three to bring the Tigers within one. However, the shot was too little to late as E.P. inbound the ball to run out the few remaining seconds.

While Division I E.P. escaped with the win, Tiverton head coach David Landoch was pleased with his Division III group to make it this close of a game.

“I was very proud, but I always want to win though,” Coach Landoch said. “They kept on battling until we got the lead. I love the crew that we have. They come out and fight every day.”

Both teams play non-league games next as E.P. faces Pilgrim Tuesday night, Dec. 13, in Warwick while Tiverton will go on the road to face Westport on Tuesday.

— Photos by Alex Watrous and Ashley Rodriguez