EPHS boys’ hoops rallies again, beats LaSalle in D-I quarters

Townies overcome another 19-point deficit to reach league semifinals

Posted 3/2/20

PROVIDENCE — For the second time in as many 2020 Division I championship tournament outings the East Providence High School boys’ basketball team staged a stirring rally to remain alive in the …

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EPHS boys’ hoops rallies again, beats LaSalle in D-I quarters

Townies overcome another 19-point deficit to reach league semifinals

Posted

PROVIDENCE — For the second time in as many 2020 Division I championship tournament outings the East Providence High School boys’ basketball team staged a stirring rally to remain alive in the event.

Just as they did in the first round at home against Central, the fifth-seeded Townies overturned a double-digit deficit in the second half to defeat fourth-seeded and host LaSalle, 82-75, in overtime Monday night, March 2, in the quarterfinals.

East Providence advances to the semifinals opposite the winner of top-seeded Hendricken and ninth-seeded Coventry. The Hawks and Knotty Oakers play their quarter Tuesday night, March 3.

The Townies, who are now also comfortably into the upcoming Open State Tournament that follows divisions, await the victor on Friday, March 6, at a site and time still to be determined.

EPHS trailed by as many as 19 points before coming back to beat Central, 77-72, in the opening round of the tourney on February 28.

“It’s a game-changer. We’re not the team with potential anymore,” EPHS head coach Joe Andrade said after besting the rival Rams. “We went out and beat someone who is a power house. LaSalle is a power house. Now we’re in the Open and we have a Final Four spot. It’s a big road win. It’s a signature win for the program.”

Monday night, East Providence (15-5 in league games) trailed right out of the gate 15-2 then 41-26 at intermission. LaSalle (14-5) built its lead mostly due to the Rams’ hot outside shooting. Brian Taylor, much like he did against Central, helped keep the locals in the game, scoring 11 points in the opening 16 minutes.

The Townies found an answer early in the second half, though not before the Rams stretched their edge to 19 just out of the locker room.

East Providence used a monster 18-0 run to trim their deficit to only one just five minutes into the final period. Justin Pena, who scored 15 points in the second half, and Taylor spurred the initial response.

But the Rams scored on their next few trips while East Providence got a little sloppy and the Rams’ lead stretched back out to nine.

Around that time, though, the Townies’ R.J. Pina began to find his rhythm. He joined his mates in cutting the spread to within a couple possessions, where it remained for much of the rest of the way.

Both teams had chances to win the game late, but failed to do so.

LaSalle made a bucket in the waning moments and had two free throws to extend its lead to three, but missed both. The Rams shot a paltry 19-for-34 from the line on the night. Pena tied the score at 68, making the first of a 1-and-1, but not the second. And LaSalle’s attempt before the second half buzzer did not drop either, leaving the score knotted at the end of regulation.

The Townies controlled the extra session, outscoring the Rams 14-7. Pena had four in OT. Pina had five in the extra five minutes. Taylor and Zach Russell each hit two free throws.

Taylor paced the Townies with 25 points. Pena and Pina each had 21. Russell added 10, Josh Kauffman six and Matt DosSantos a pair.

“The first half did not go the way it should have gone. The second half, we kind of got rolling and we started to play defense the way we can. And we started making shots. It’s very difficult when everyone is playing well for us to be stopped,” Andrade added. “It’s a senior-laden group with R.J., Justin, Josh and those guys. They’re not going to go down without a fight.”

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