PORTSMOUTH — Why not us?

The Portsmouth High School boys’ basketball team will have a chance to win its first-ever Division I state title when it faces La Salle Academy Friday, March 6, at 8 p.m. at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.

The seventh-seeded Patriots got to the finals by upsetting — and dominating — second-seeded Lincoln in the quarterfinals Saturday at Lincoln School, 63-45. Then in the semis on Tuesday at Rhode Island College, Portsmouth nipped sixth-seeded Central, 45-44.

With the top-seeded Barrington High team getting trounced by La Salle (No. 5) in the other semifinal game, 62-45, the Patriots certainly have a fighting chance to be crowned state champs on Friday.

Liam Casey led Portsmouth in scoring Tuesday night with 16 points, followed by Jack Casey with 12 points and Adam Conheeny with 10. 

Jack Casey put an exclamation mark on the Patriots’ stunning 63-45 upset win over Lincoln Saturday night with a two-handed slam in the closing minutes.

Jackson Hackley led the Patriots on offense in that game with 17 points, while Jack and Liam Casey each added another 14. Conheeny and Nico Colantuono each finished with nine points. 

Girls fall in semis

The Portsmouth girls’ basketball team fell to top-seeded Westerly, 48-36, in the Division 1 semifinals at Rhode Island College on Monday night. 

The fifth-seeded Patriots had won six games in a row before their semifinal loss. 

Gyselle Mairs and Stella Orr each scored seven points in the defensive battle. Haley Hurd netted six, Annie Hurd and Kylie Delemos each scored five, Violet Silvia scored four and Josie Rainey added two. 

The 14-4 Patriots aren’t finished yet as they look to play in the state basketball tournament that will start next week.