Spotlight on Sports

EPHS Basketball

RI Football Coach of the Year

Posted Monday, April 4, 2016 11:02 am

Bob Rodericks

EPHS Coed Cheer Team Repeat State Champs

For the second year in a row, the EPHS Competition Coed Cheer team won the RI Interscholastic State championship. The competition was held at the RI Convention Center last month before an enthusiastic crowd. The Townies won two titles, Coed Cheer and Overall Champions. The Townie performance was called "flawless" by most observers, including the voting judges.

After the meet Townie coach Bobbie Simon told the assembled media that her team "could feel the crowd electricity. It helped them out on the mat, I'm very proud." When the Townies were announced as winners, the large contingent of Townie fans loudly signaled their approval and rushed the mat. "Our fans shook this place and we felt that love on the mat," Simon said.

"I am so proud to be one of the coaches of the EPHS Competition Cheer Team. They all have showed that no matter how well they do at any competition they hold their heads high and move on to the next day. The sportsmanship and maturity they showed is well beyond their years," said assistant coach Chris Ricci. In addition to the overall State Championship for two consecutive years, the Townie cheer team has racked up several individual invitational 1st place titles.

A winning pattern may be emerging as the newly formed Riverside - Martin Middle School Competition Team competed last month also. They placed 5th overall and 4th in Large Division in their first year of competition. Middle school Head Coach is Chantel Ricci. Asst. Coaches are Lisa Alves and Taylor Cote.

EPHS Boys Basketball

Two Halves of Basketball were displayed by the Townies in the state open division championships last month. EP was on the brink of getting to the final-four at URI if they could upset rival LaSalle. Before the playoff game with rival LaSalle, Townie coach Alex Butler seemed calm. "It's in the team's hands now," said the veteran coach referring to his players. "We've come a long way to get here, had a good season and I know we'll come out ready to play." Indeed, EP was ready to play but couldn't hold on to an early, impressive lead. The Townies played two halves of basketball Sunday night against 22-4 league leading LaSalle in Elite Eight playoff action at Brown University. Unfortunately for East Providence, they lost the second half. East Providence started the game on fire as they used a combination of hot offense and tight defense in jumping out to an early lead and staying ahead of the favored Rams for most of the first half. East Providence seemed to score at will hitting long three-point baskets as well as two-point jump shots and some nifty lay-ups.

Marcus McCarthy (18 pts) was a key contributor for East Providence as were Zack Veiga (10 points), Jarron Santos (11 pts), Marcus McCarthy (18 pts) and Adam Duarte (12 pts). Throughout the first hald the Townies would stop LaSalle's offense with a tight perimeter defense and gain an advantage rebounding. East Providence would fast break often or pull up and hit on some deep three-point attempts. At times the Townie offense provided a balanced attack as evidenced by a deep three-point shot by Kyerstan Casey with 4:40 left in the first half to help maintain a 6 point Townie lead.

With the first half coming to a close, EP's Santos drove to the basket and threw up an alley-oop shot for a score. The Townies seemed to be playing all aspects of the game as well as they could. With East Providence spreading the floor the Townies continued to dominate LaSalle in the first half as the half ended with EP up 35-29. Townie fans began to feel an upset win and a trip to the final-four at URI next week.

The second half adjustments made by LaSalle began to work quickly, however, as the Rams came out flying and quickly derailed the Townie attack. Scoring 12 unanswered points while the Townies turned ice-cold offensively and committed a costly travel, the Rams stole the ball and Lawrence Sabir a senior Ram guard tied the game at 35. East Providence called a time out but the Rams stayed hot as Michael McCourt stepped back and hit a three-point shot putting LaSalle ahead for the first time. Another three-point shot by Sabir and the Ram lead was now 41-35.

East Providence could not regain the lead although making a valiant comeback. The Townies closed to within 4 points when Marcus McCarthy hit on two free throws and on a end to end drive shortly after, McCarthy's layup made the score 53-48. The Townies kept fighting from behind and on a good turn-around jump shot by Adam Duarte, Ep closed to within 3 points. Zac Veiga hit on a long three-pointer to make the score 58-55 for the Rams but EP otherwise remained cold offensively and LaSalle increased their lead to 62-55 with 1:32 left in the game. A breakaway drive for the Rams ended in a basket dashing the Townies hopes for a comeback. LaSalle defeated East Providence by a 69-60 final score, sending the Rams on to the final four.

Townie Head Coach Alex Butler thought his team had a chance to advance. "We did what we had to in the first half. We made them (LaSalle) play from behind which is hard for any team to do. But they came out of it in the second half. I am proud that our guys made it this far, while wanting to go further, we did have a good season," said Butler.

EPHS's Jay Monteiro is Rhode Island Football Coach of the Year

The Townies' Jay Monteiro was rewarded for his rebuilding efforts with Townie football as he was named the State Football Coach of the Year. Monteiro's Townies almost made it to the final four of football with a close playoff loss to rival LaSalle. Many observers felt that without the injuries endured by key Townie starters, EP could have gone to the Superbowl easily. "No excuses, said Monteiro. Everyone has injuries, but yes, I would have liked our chances if we had a full healthy team."

Bay View Basketball's Haynes is Coach of the Year

Bay View Basketball Coach Doug Haynes won the RI High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association “Coach of the Year Award” for last year. "He’s led Bay View to state titles and consistent post-season play," said a Bay View statement.

Central Park to be Rejuvenated

Yet another John Carnevale and friends project is about to commence. "It's not every day in our society we get to see a community stay strong, passionate, and remain closely together through both thick and thin. Through good times and bad times, the Central Park community in beautiful East Providence, RI has stuck together, fought hard for their children, and most importantly persevered and stayed committed to their number #1 priority; their YOUTH. Today, after more than 30 years of unselfish hard work and sacrifice, local families in the Central Park community are stepping up to revitalize a community park that has memories like no other," said Carnevale in one of his signature blurbs to residents. "Feeling the passion of hundreds of people speaking of what seems like this magical place of friendship, brotherhood, and family, you truly start to realize the real power of COMMUNITY at Central Park, now proudly known as Onna Moniz-John Community Playground," continued Carnevale.

Carnevale cited the efforts of another young Townie entrepreneur, Kevin Robinson and his K-Rob Foundation. "Hats off to the amazing Kevin Robinson, as always, you continue to serve as a hero to us all! Peace, Love, and UNITY." - a Proud East Providence Resident, and Always a Townie! - John Carnevale.

April 10th Pasta Dinner to Kick Off Central Park Project

Starting in the next couple of weeks, the City of East Providence will break ground on "one of the most important projects of the summer and begin a 4-month construction project to restore and add to this critical community playground, making it one of the most unique parks in all of Rhode Island! To kick off this monumental restoration project, local families are uniting together to throw a beautiful Pasta Dinner at the Cape Verdean Progression Center (Grosvenor Ave.) on April 10th from 2-6pm to help raise funds to extend restoration capabilities."

Onna Moniz-John Playground at Central Park is located off North Broadway between Central and McCausland Avenues.

EP Mohawks Summer Basketball

The 3rd summer of the EP Mohawks Summer Basketball League will be underway before you know it! Get the jump and register online. Space is limited so register and get ready to play ball at one of Rhode Island's best sports complexes.

Thanks to D' Amore Step, John Carnevale and EP residents, the newly renovated courts at Pierce are completed and are beautiful. Because of online registrations, there will be only one day (April 27th) for in-person registrations. More information is available at info@epmohawks.org.

Central Park to be Rejuvenated

Carnevale cited the efforts of another young Townie entrepreneur, Kevin Robinson and his K-Rob Foundation.

April 10th Pasta Dinner to Kick Off Central Park Project

Spring Sports Underway

As of this writing high school and middle school teams have begun competition for the spring season. An early season snowstorm melted away fast and teams are ready for play. Also getting ready to compete are the various little leagues and other youth sports. Golf, tennis, baseball, softball, track, volleyball, unified basketball and lacrosse are some of the teams getting ready for the state interscholastic spring season. Follow updates on team results and news at ReporterToday.com. To help your team receives coverage in the Reporter, email bobrodericks@gmail.com.