EAST PROVIDENCE — Fifth-seeded East Providence High School opens the 2020 Division I boys’ basketball championship tournament Friday night, Feb. 28, with a home contest against visiting and 12th-seeded Central at 6:30 p.m.
The Townies enter the postseason as the definitive No. 5 seed in the Division I championship playoffs and the same in the Open State Tournament, however league playoff games count towards seeding in the latter.
EPHS appeared likely to host 12th-seeded Central in the opening round of the D-I tourney later this week. The league playoffs conclude March 8. The Open Tourney begins March 10. Division I teams earn 1 point for wins, D-II .8 and D-III .6.
The EPHS-Central winner plays at fourth-seeded LaSalle Monday, March 2, in the quarterfinals also at 7 p.m. The league playoffs conclude March 8. The Open Tourney begins March 10.
The Townies and Knights met once during the regular season, in East Providence on Martin Luther King Jr. Day when E.P. defeated Central, 80-73. The locals rallied from a 41-36 deficit at halftime for the win. R.J. Pina again led five EPHS players in double figures with 25. Brian Taylor had 20, Matt DosSantos 14, Josh Kauffman 11 and Justin Pena 10.