Perfection for Portsmouth Middle School basketball teams
Both the girls’ and boys’ squads go undefeated, win state titles
PORTSMOUTH — If there’s ever been another instance of two basketball teams from the same middle school going undefeated on their way to winning state titles, Tara McCarthy …
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Perfection for Portsmouth Middle School basketball teams
Both the girls’ and boys’ squads go undefeated, win state titles
PORTSMOUTH — If there’s ever been another instance of two basketball teams from the same middle school going undefeated on their way to winning state titles, Tara McCarthy couldn’t find it.
“I actually was trying to do some research and nothing came up on the internet regarding middle school,” said McCarthy, the school’s assistant athletic director and an assistant coach for the girls’ team. (Keith Cory is the athletic director.)
But that’s exactly what the middle school girls’ and boys’ teams accomplished this year. They capped off perfect seasons by winning Rhode Island Principals Committee on Athletics (RIPCOA) championships at Johnston High School on Saturday.
“They were both 15-0, including the playoffs,” said McCarthy. “It was a wild ride.”
The girls defeated Wickford, 44-33, and the boys downed Curtis Corner, 55-41. It was the second consecutive title for the boys’ squad, led by Drew Herren, son of former NBA player Chris Herren.
McCarthy, a Bristol native, has seen a lot of success on the hardcourt herself. She was a three-time Division I state basketball champion with La Salle Academy, and a two-time All-State selection.
This time, however, she got to watch the younger players’ magic.
“Today, I think it all kind of hit me,” she said on Tuesday. “I’m just so happy for the kids.”
Here are the players from both teams:
Girls: Grace Galvin, Kamaya Jones, Lily Morgado, Stella Orr, Fallon Hurd, Raegan Pawlowski, Annie Hurd, Emily Bronson, Audrey Abedon, and Giselle Mairs, eighth grade; Greyson Helie, Kyla Walton, Natalie Gavan, and Violet Silvia, seventh grade; and Nyla Crespo, Brooklyn Coyle, Haley Hurd, and Josephine Rainey, sixth grade. Head coach is Bob Morgado and assistant coach is Tara McCarthy.
Boys: AJ Purvis, Kaleb Ruszczyk, Braden Coyle, Liam Casey, Michael Faria, Silas McMillan, Jimmy Herring, Drew Herren, Roman Ridolfi, Max Harvey, and Brad Landerville, eighth grade; and Xavier Fox, Eoin Soler, Tyler Boiani, Shane Rogers, and Cameron Quinn, seventh grade. Jared Conheeny is the head coach, and Wes Lemar is the assistant coach.
