Townies trounce Saints in non-league boys' hoops opener

East Providence begins league season next at rival LaSalle

By Mike Rego
Posted 12/8/22

EAST PROVIDENCE — From tip to finish the East Providence High School boys' basketball team thoroughly outplayed the visiting St. Andrew’s School high school level squad en route to a …

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Townies trounce Saints in non-league boys' hoops opener

East Providence begins league season next at rival LaSalle

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — From tip to finish the East Providence High School boys' basketball team thoroughly outplayed the visiting St. Andrew’s School high school level squad en route to a one-sided 75-38 victory in the non-league opener to the 2022-23 season for the host Townies Thursday night, Dec. 8.

“We played well, but we still need to iron some things out,” said EPHS head coach Joe Andrade. “Against a better team we need to do things a little more crisp, but I loved the energy.”

East Providence led the neighboring Saints from Barrington (not to be confused with the St. Andrew's  NEPSAC Class AA prep power team) 18-7 at the end of the first quarter then 38-20 to conclude the opening 16 minutes and weren’t ever tested the rest of the way.

The Townies were by far the quicker and more skilled of the sides.  East Providence sprinted out in transition and moved the ball well offensively in the half-court. Defensively, the locals smothered  their opponents and kept them to one shot on most trips.

The backcourt duo of senior Max Collins and junior Trey Rezendes paced the Townies with 12 points apiece. Seniors Xavier Hazard and Will Winfield had nine and eight, respectively, in their ’22-23 debuts. All 16 EPHS players who dressed and entered the game scored at least two points.

“We played really good tonight. We played better defense than we usually do. That’s what like I’d like to see more. Our offense was flowing,” said Collins.

Added Rezendes, “Our expectation was to dominate from the start. Last year we didn’t focus on the details, certain things like rebounding, help defense. Tonight we just wanted to focus on the little things, because the little things are what’s going to carry us to our end goal at the end of the season.”

The Townies open their 2022-23 Rhode Island Interscholastic League Division I schedule Tuesday night, Dec. 13, in Providence against rival LaSalle. The game is the first of two meetings this winter between the Townies and Rams, who share the same sub-grouping with East Greenwich and Narragansett. Tip time is 7 p.m.

"At LaSalle will be tough. Again if we can rebound, match their intensity inside we have the  ability to win," Andrade said of the meeting with the Rams, who swept the Townies in two games last winter on their way to an unbeaten 18-0 regular season.  LaSalle was defeated by 17-1 Classical in the league championship game.
 
Andrade added, "LaSalle will be different without their two guards who started for the last three years, so there will be an adjustment on their end. But there is talent there and they are long and athletic also."

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