Fast Start Propels East Providence Townies Past Vikings

Quick out of the gate.

The girls’ basketball team scored the first 13 points of the game Wednesday afternoon and never trailed en route to a 56-42 victory Rogers High of Newport in a first-round game of the two-day 2011 Barrington Boosters Holiday Tournament at Barrington High.

Brittany Crosby scored a game-high 19 points, Alyssa Dias tossed in 15 points (including three three-point baskets) and Taylor Wiggins added 11 points as the Townies pulled away midway through the second half and evened their season record at 3-3. Ny’Jah Rivon netted 17 points and Sienna Benson finished with 14 points for the Vikings, who slipped to 4-2.

Performing with superior aggressiveness, intensity and energy, East Providence held Rogers scoreless for the first 6:55 of the contest and never trailed. The Vikings narrowed their deficit to four points late in the first half and to six points midway through the final chapter until the Townies produced a 10-4 streak to settle the outcome.

“Defensively, we’ve been pretty strong all year, but our offense kind of goes into lapses,” said EP Coach Mike Solitro. “We kind of attacked the basket a little more in the second half and I think that’s why we got better.”

Rebounding was another key in the game's outcome. Despite a size disadvantage, the active Townies out-rebounded the taller Vikings by an unofficial margin of 48-33.

After their quick start, the Townies fell victim to a rash of missed shots, turnovers and dubious shot selection and Rogers regrouped to make it a game. East Providence held just a 25-19 advantage at halftime and led by only a 40-34 margin with 7:03 remaining.

At that point, Dias swished a three-pointer, Wiggins connected on turnaround jumper, Crosby sank a free throw, Bianca Vails converted an offensive rebound and Thomeeka Speaks hit a runner from the right baseline that opened a 50-38 bulge with 3:12 left. The Vikings came no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

“We moved some people around today and we adjusted well offensively,” Solitro said. “Our press looked pretty good and we got some turnovers on it, so I was pretty happy with that.”

While Rogers appeared shaky at the start of the game, East Providence hit the court running. Wiggins banked in a give-and-go lay-in just 23 seconds after the opening tip to put the Townies ahead to stay and the barrage continued with a Lindsee Allienello runner, a Dias trey, a Crosby baseline jumper, a Wiggins lay-in and two Wiggins charity tosses, opening a 13-0 cushion before Rivon banked in an offensive rebound from the lane to snap the Vikings’ scoring drought.

Sparked by Benson, Nifaty Morales, Elizabeth Jackson and Rivon, Rogers gradually crept back into the contest, drawing to within seven points (22-15) with 3:31 to go in the first half and to within four points (23-19) with 2:25 to play after Benson banked in a drive and Morales converted a layup. The Vikings, however, went scoreless during the rest of the period and Crosby’s put-back at the 1:11 mark gave EP its six-point edge at the break.

“I think the kids are playing better together,” Solitro said. “They’re more style to the offense and people are getting better looks. Defensively, I’m pleased that we’re able to adjust so many times during a game.”

The Townies return to Barrington on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to face The Prout School of Wakefield.

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