Durante continues to lead CCRI

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The CCRI Knights men’s basketball team hosted the Central Maine Community College Mustangs on Saturday afternoon. For the second game in a row, a sophomore would win CCRI the game in the final moments. Co-captain Elijah Lewis (Bridgeport, CT) drained a fade away three-pointer with 0.6 seconds left on the clock. The win improves the Knights’ season record to 9-4 record overall and 6-0 in Region XXI play.

The final game of 2019 for the Knights saw the Central Maine Mustangs come south to the Vincent A. Cullen Field House for an afternoon showdown. The first half was a close battle for the full 20 minutes. The Mustangs led early, ahead of the Knights 16-11 with 13:54 left in the first half. CCRI shared the ball well with three Knights scoring eight points apiece from the floor.

Sophomore co-captain Dylan Durante (Johnston) drained two three-pointers and added one mid-range jumper for his eight points. Freshman Mitchel Noresca (East Providence) and Lewis both registered their eight points from within the arc, scoring four field goals each. The first half scoring was led by Central Maine’s Saikwon Williams who scored 10 points from the floor. At the halftime, CCRI came back and led 45-39 over the Mustangs.

Central Maine came out strong in the second half. Led by a game high 26 points from Williams the Mustangs would hold the point advantage for much of the second half. Just behind him was fellow Mustang Mark McDonald who tallied 22 points to boost Central Maine. CCRI was always within striking distance and trailed by only one point, 68-67 with eight minutes left in the game.

The game was tied at 87 points apiece with 1:49 left on the clock, this was when the sharing of the ball and hence the scoring showed its immense importance. Five Knights hit double-digit scoring and made life terribly difficult for the defending Mustangs. Central Maine also had success scoring and were level with CCRI with just a few seconds remaining, 89-89.

Up steps Lewis. Looking to set up the buzzer beater. Central Maine beat the high pick that was meant to give space to Lewis. Forced to adjust, Elijah pulled up from 25 feet and sent a dagger through the Central Maine hearts as his shot drained through the center of the rim. The buzzer sounded but the officials deemed that 0.6 seconds be added to the clock. On the ensuing rebound, the Mustangs could not retain possession and CCRI would win the game 92-89.

The Knights’ offense was led by Lewis with 18 points including four 3-pointers, five rebounds and four assists. Freshman Mikey Gamble (Hartford, CT) also tallied 18 points including two 3-pointers with four rebounds. Noresca registered a career high 16 rebounds with 14 points and three assists. Sophomore co-captain Jeremy Remigio (Providence) contributed 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Freshman Tyreek Davis (Wallingford, CT) chipped in 10 points and three rebounds from the bench.

Head Coach Rick Harris commented, “Great ending to our first semester schedule today. Our guys really came up with some amazingly big plays down the stretch. We needed every one as Central Maine played an outstanding game and did all they could to win the game. Coming back from 8 points, down the stretch, and Elijah Lewis hitting that step back three-pointer showed how far this team has come and definitely was an early Christmas present to all of us. Men’s basketball wishes all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2020.”

The CCRI Knights men’s basketball team will next be in action on Saturday, January 4th at 3:00 p.m. as they travel to South Portland, Maine to take on the Seawolves of Southern Maine Community College. Lady Knights fall to top-ranked CMCC

The CCRI Lady Knights basketball team hosted the No. 1 ranked (USCAA DII WBB poll) Mustangs of Central Maine Community College from Auburn Maine on Saturday. The Lady Knights lost to the Mustangs 90-40. With the loss CCRI falls to 4-10 on the season.

The Lady Knights were coming off two very good performances during a very tough stretch of their schedule. In the final game of the semester CCRI faced the top ranked United States Collegiate Athletic Association DII team in the 13-1 Mustangs of Central Maine CC. the Mustangs came in as the top scoring (86.5ppg) and best defensive (42.5ppg) team in the USCAA.  The Lady Knights gave it all they had but the Mustangs came of the bus in a full court press and did not stop pressing until they had left the borders of the state of Rhode Island. 

The Mustangs held the Lady Knights to just eight point in the first quarter with their fierce full court press while rattling off 24 points of their own led by a balanced attack that saw seven players get into the scoring column. The Lady Knights scored 13 in the second quarter but the Mustangs answered with 22. CCRI got six points from freshman guard Jada Burton-Hall (Providence) but the Mustangs got six from Alyssa Everett and Chandler True as they extended their lead to 25 points with the score 46-21 at the halftime break. The second half of the game was a mirror image of the first half. Central Maine full court pressed as if down by 26 points rather than up 42 and 50 points that they led by at the end of the third and fourth quarters. The final score of the contest was 90-40 Central Maine.

Leading the way for the Lady Knights was freshman Janessa Perry (Charlestown) with a team-high 14 points with two rebounds. Burton-Hall added six points and five rebounds. Co-Captain Reilly Hodge (Wakefield) and Ireauna Pegus (Middletown) each added four points while Pegus added 10 rebounds and two steals. Destiny Gregson (North Providence) added five points, two assists and a steal while Co-Captain Jazlynn Jimenez (Providence) contributed three points, four steals, three assists and four rebounds.  

The next games for the Lady Knights will be next semester Saturday January 4th at 1 p.m. when they travel to Portland, ME to play the Seawolves of Southern Maine Community College.        

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