PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High girls’ basketball team’s season came to an end Saturday, but not before the scrappy squad overcame expectations to get to the “Eight Eight” of the state tournament.

The Patriots, the No. 10 seed, upset No. 7-seeded Barrington on the road last Wednesday, March 1, after the Eagles got off to a horrendously slow start with just 12 first-half points.

Portsmouth couldn’t overcome North Kingstown on Saturday, however, falling to the No. 2 seed at the Murray Center at Rhode Island College Saturday, 49.35.

The Patriots wouldn’t be denied against Barrington, using solid defense to limit the Eagles’ defense early on and taking a 26-12 lead going into halftime. 

Barrington cut Portsmouth’s lead to 34-24 by the end of the third quarter, but the Patriots responded every time the Eagles made a run. 

After Barrington’s Maddie Gill ignited the home crowd with a basket in the fourth quarter, for instance, Portsmouth’s Maeve Tullson and Emily Maiato scored back-to-back baskets to give Portsmouth a 40-32 edge with three minutes to play. The Patriots also knocked down six free throws in six attempts to finish out the game.

Tullson and Maiato led Portsmouth against the Eagles, scoring 15 and 11 points, respectively. 

“They’re a senior-laden team,” Barrington head coach Stephen Lenz said of the Patriots after the game. “They have four seniors who didn’t want to go home today. I give them a lot of credit.”