Road to the Ryan Center commences
Raiders gear up for run at state title
PAWTUCKET – After completing its Division II regular-season slate with a perfect 18-0 record, Shea High entered the playoffs as the top seed – and hell-bent on capturing the D-II championship.
That fell by the wayside, however, when Cumberland claimed a 72-64 overtime victory at Rhode Island College on Sunday afternoon.
You’d think the Raiders would be licking their wounds following the upset defeat, but head coach Matt Pita indicated otherwise after Monday’s practice session.
“Our guys came back and seemed pretty loose to me,” stated Pita, whose club will take a phenomenal 22-2 mark into its R.I. Open Tournament first-round match-up against 14th-seeded Pilgrim (15-9). That clash is set for tonight at 7:30 at Roger Williams University.
“They weren’t bummed out about it. I think they understood it just didn’t go our way,” he added. “We were up 64-60 with 80 seconds left in regulation, but allowed it to get away.
I told the guys, “Hey, you can’t always win,’ and they seemed ready to prep for Pilgrim.
“We had a really good practice. We spent some time on our free-throw shooting, which we needed, but I think we’re ready. They’re not upset, and that’s the type of kid they all are. They want to move on; they just want to get back on the winning track.”
According to numbers alone, the thirdseeded Raiders should. They faced the Patriots once during the regular campaign, scorching them, 83-58. Likewise, Shea outscored its 18 league foes by nearly 300 points (1,491-1,195).
“I’ll tell you right now, they have two kids – (senior) Jake Gonsalves and (junior) Matt Woods – and they’re extremely talented, tough to face,” Pita offered. “They’re both All-Division at guard. I know they’re a good shooting team, and they get outstanding contributions from them.
“We beat then at our place, yes, but Gonsalves didn’t play, and Woods had 20plus points,” he continued. “What make them so good is that they’re just smart with the basketball. They shoot it well and play solid man-to-man defense.
“They rebounded well against us, and they were physical. We’ve got to get it out in transition and we have to hit the boards (with authority). We also have to force turnovers, which is something we didn’t do well against Cumberland.”
To earn a berth in the Open quarterfinals opposite the victor of the No. 6 Mount Pleasant-No. 11 Middletown tilt, slated for Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at Brown University’s Pizzitola Center, the Raiders must get the typically-stellar contributions from 6-4 senior center Abdul Ajia; 6-1 senior center Malik Muhammed-Hester; 5-11 freshman guard Erickson Bans; sixfoot junior guard Gerald Soe; and 6-2 junior forward Joe Adegboyega.
Then again, stated Pita, they’ll need point production from senior guards Tyreek Rodrigues and Yanique Duarte.
“I know Pilgrim finished the D-II season at 12-6, but then lost to Portsmouth in the preliminary round, so they’re going to be hungry, too,” Pita said. “We just have to do the things we usually do so well. We’ve got to crash the boards and try to force them into mistakes. We’ll see how it goes.”