Avengers Fall To Prout In State D3 Title Game

The East Greenwich Avengers remarkable basketball season came to an end after a tough 12 point loss to the Prout Crusaders in the D3 state title game last night at CCRI.

The loss capped off the Avengers season with an impressive league record of 17-4.

"It was a good run," said senior leading scorer Sam Payette after the game. "But things just didn't go our way and the shots weren't falling."

Nick Messier, the commander of the offense, said after the season came to a close, "It was a great run, not what we wanted, but it was fun and something I will always remember."

The Division 3 state championship game was definitely an ugly display of basketball, as both teams struggled to get into their rhythm from the start of the game. The rims simply weren't happy with both teams shooting for the majority of the first half. The only points scored at the beginning of the game were a few free throws for both teams and a few layups.

The Avengers were moving the ball around well but the shoots simply weren't falling. The Avs even had difficulties on the free throw line; they were 3 of 8 in the first half. Evan Walsh finally broke the shooting trend, as he nailed the game's first three pointer late into the half to only make the score 7-6.

This low scoring affair continued as both Prout and EG weren't playing their best games of basketball. Sam Payette also hit a three pointer late into the half to tie the score up at 9. With thirty seconds remaining in the half, Prout's leading scorer of the game thus far hit a 3-pointer to make the score 17-13 at half, in Prout's favor.

At the start of the second half both teams showcased great intensity in hopes of turning the game around. But Prout was the team that ended up improving as the night went on and the Avenger shots continued to not fall.

Prouts kept their lead that they had at half for the rest of the game, but it kept growing by a little bit. Throughout the second half, EG was running their sets to get numerous wide open looks from behind the arc but they still were not going in. The Avengers only made one three in the second half by Nick Messier.

The Prout lead continued to grow. On three consecutive possessions late in the game the Avengers missed open threes. Towards the end, EG showed signs of coming back as they switched to a full court man-to-man press which created a turnovers against Prout.

But after the steals, EG still had trouble finishing at the rim. Prout capitalized on all the missed shots by EG, especially when Prout guard Justin Bristol hit a pair of threes and free throws towards the end of the championship. Prout also was successful on the free throw line, which sealed the victory for the Crusaders. 

The Avengers truly had a wonderful season and it's a shame to see their season end the way it did in the state championship. 

"It was the best experience," said Brandon Eckles, the future star of the Avenger basketball program. "It really turned me into a better player and its a shame to have this amazing season end the way it did. It only makes me want to work harder for next season."

EG is losing seven seniors, including all of their starters, therefore the team will look to Eckles and other underclassmen to guide the Avenger squad for the next few years. 

It's a shame to see their season end the way it did in the state championship but the Avengers should definitely be proud of their wonderful season.

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