We’re at the midseason point for winter sports, well, maybe a little beyond the halfway mark, and there has been plenty to digest as we gear up for the playoff push the next few weeks.
Here are some takeaways:
In Division I boys basketball, I felt pretty strongly that Classical would be the odds-on favorite to win it all again. Sure, La Salle and Hendricken would be in the mix, but I felt pretty good that the Purple would repeat as four of their five starters returned from last year’s state championship roster.
At this point, the Rams have been the best team in the state as they sit at 10-0, Hendricken got revenge by beating the defending champs last week, and both Central and Barrington have had their moments and sit firmly in the playoff race.
Although I am not backing down from my original take that Classical will repeat, the Rams have proven to be the better unit by beating the Purple, Hawks and Eagles. They beat Classical by two points, though, and Hendricken earned a hard fought win in Providence last week. Division I, for now, is wide open.
Johnston has had a tough go in its first season in DI. A rebuilding season was to be expected for the Panthers, who graduated their entire starting lineup and moved up. Johnston has yet to get a win, so the goal from here should be to simply improve and lay a foundation for growth next year.
The Pilgrim boys have been strong in Division II as they set their sights on a deep run with an experienced, well-rounded group. The team is 5-3 in league play and 11-5 overall. Dylan Vale and Carter Clifton remain one of the best duos in the league and Jack Bannon and Jack Cirelli have been consistent producers behind them. The Pats have gotten so-so results against teams ahead of them in the standings, so there is still one step to be taken before we call them bona fide championship contenders, but there is plenty of time for them to make that progress. Cranston West is at 5-8 in DII with a brand new starting lineup, so it will be interesting to see how far guys like Noah Germain can take this group and if it can be a factor down the stretch.
Toll Gate has found itself a home in Division III and has been hanging in the top-5 of the division all winter. The team moved down from DII this season and has felt the benefits immediately. Brayden Healy and transfer Damola Oremosu have been arguably the best front court in the division while Jack Colvin and Liam Leahy have been strong in the back court. Similar to the aforementioned Patriots, the Titans have struggled at times against the top few teams, but Toll Gate certainly has the pieces to insert itself into the championship conversation. By the way, the Titans beat the Pats in a cross-over thriller on Monday, further making their case as a DIII power.
Our top girls basketball team has been Pilgrim as it has returned to prominence this year after a season away.
The Pats have been excellent this season and have been led by a large group of sophomores, which makes this success even more impressive. Lily Hall has been the leader as a senior, but sophomores Madison Tuirok, Skylar Hawes and Maddison Belanger, among others, have filled out the rest of the lineup and have provided a spark. The Pats entered the week at 6-2 and in third place, with their only losses coming to first and second place Prout and Lincoln School. The game against Prout was a dogfight, but Lincoln School won by a wider margin. Point being, the question in DIII appears to be, can anyone beat the undefeated Lynx? Pilgrim will be right in the mix to reach the finals, but can one of these teams pull off the upset?
We have a few boys hockey teams that have had interesting seasons to this point.
To start, the defending champion Bishop Hendricken Hawks have not skipped a beat after graduating a big senior class headlined by MVP Griffin Crain. Mason Crain and the new leaders have remained a top team and beat the rival Rams last week. Moses Brown entered the week in first place and dealt the Hawks their only loss. Division I is up for grabs, and the Hawks are right at the top ready to go for it.
We have two teams in Division II with championship aspirations.
The East Greenwich-Toll Gate co-op dropped down this season and has had fantastic results, entering the week in first place. Joe Andreozzi and Jack Kiernan would be top players on any Division I unit, and guys like Brady Parks, Brady Slinn and Wyatt Gelzhiser have enjoyed breakout years behind them. There are legitimately 6-8 teams that have what it takes to win a title, but EG-TG could be the top dog.
Also in that mix is the Cranston co-op. After a 1-3 start, the Falcons have bounced back and sit at 5-4. Devin DeAngelis has been one of the best scorers in the state and Cranston’s offense has been sharp as of late, as has freshman goalie Bryce Crance. Consistency will be key for this team, because if it stays hot, anything can happen the rest of the way. The offense runs three lines deep, the defense has a legitimate top line, and Crance has been solid as a freshman. All the pieces are in place for this team to catch fire and make a run.
The Cranston East-West girls swimming co-op has remained unbeaten and in first place as we approach the end of the regular season. For the girls, who have been led by Bianca Asencio and Elaine Wu, their regular season finale is against undefeated Westerly. The regular season title will likely come down to the final meet of the year, setting up what could be a fun division championship the following week.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here