Woonsocket overcomes Tolman
Robinson-O’Hagan, Carvalho shine on event’s first night.
CUMBERLAND — Make way for couple new entries into the “Night of Legends” annals.
On an evening that is designed to pay homage to the Blackstone Valley’s rich athletic heritage, Tolman High senior Justin Carvalho and Woonsocket senior Dwayne Robinson-O’Hagan turned in scoring performances that were legendary in every sense. Carvalho finished with 44 points while Robinson-O’Hagan pumped in 40, yet it was the Novans who dug deep and rallied from down 17 points in the second half for a 76-73 win over the Tigers at Cumberland High’s Wellness Center on Thursday night.
Woonsocket will face Cumberland in the title game of the 46th annual The Roadshow/Boys & Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island Tournament that’s scheduled for tonight (8 o’clock). The Clippers held up their end of the title-game bargain after grinding out a 42-26 win over Lincoln.
For Cumberland and Woonsocket, it will be the second of three scheduled meetings. The two Division I members met earlier this month with the Clippers claiming an 80-71 win.
“If we play together as a team, we have a chance to be very good. In the second half, we moved the ball and boxed out. Once we passed the ball around, it made it a lot easier for me to score.” — Dwayne Robinson- O’Hagan
There’s a level of familiarity that CHS coach Gary Reedy doesn’t want to see morph into a state of overconfidence. He knows the Villa Novans will be motivated to settle the score.
“We won’t be overconfident,” said Reedy, who wasn’t pleased with the 28 turnovers his squad committed against Lincoln.
Woonsocket would be wise to not repeat Thursday’s first half showing against a Cumberland outfit that’s seeking its fourth straight post-Christmas tournament title. Tolman did come out hot behind Carvalho and senior Izaiah Rivera-Lopez (19 points) en route an 11-3 lead as the Novans fumbled the ball away eight times during the eight minutes.
“They came out hot, but I told our guys that it’s a long game,” said WHS head coach T.J. Ciolfi. “We just had to keep fighting.”
The Tigers continued to own the upper hand and that was especially true when Carvalho connected from deep for a 29-13 lead with less than six minutes to go before halftime. Robinson-O’Hagan was key in helping the Novans move to within single digits inside the final minute but Carvalho was fouled at the buzzer while shooting a three. He made two at the line to put the Tigers up 39-28 at recess.
Just like during the opening stages of the first half, Tolman started the second half on a scoring tear that enabled the Tigers to apply some serious distance on the scoreboard. A three by Carvalho capped off a 10-4 run and pinned Woonsocket in a sizeable hole (49-32) but with plenty of time still remaining.
When Robinson-O’Hagan was good from downtown with 11 minutes left, it kickstarted a 10-2 surge for Woonsocket that was momentarily halted when Carvalho drained one of his six three-pointers. From there, Tolman’s offense began to sputter while Robinson-O’Hagan was just warming up.
The deficit was wiped away when Justo Colon swished two free throws that put Woonsocket up 57-56 with 6:15 left. The lead grew to 61-56 when Carvalho dialed up a trey, but Colon answered with a layup off a Tolman turnover that once again placed Woonsocket in front by two possessions.
Colon didn’t start the game but ended up playing a huge role on both ends of the court. He netted 11 of his 12 points after halftime.
“He was a big help,” said Robinson-O’Hagan. “He hit some big shots and helped out defensively.”
Added Ciolfi, “That’s the best Justo has played this season. We’re at our best when we’re playing fast but Justo enables Dwayne to not have to bring the ball up the floor every single time.”
Tolman retook the lead at 64-63 after senior Justin Klemanchuck drilled a three from the right wing but a follow by senior Denzel Lyles and a floater in the lane from Robinson-O’Hagan helped Woonsocket go up by a 67-64 count. Carvalho hit a runner off the glass that got Tolman to within one but Robinson-O’Hagan and Colon continued to have all the answers.
The door was left open when Woonsocket committed back-to-back turnovers and Rive- ra-Lopez drained a triple that cut the Novans’ advantage to 74-71 with a minute to play. Rivera-Lopez had a good look at what would have been a game-tying three but missed. Woonsocket senior Jossue Hernandez made two free throws with 27.6 ticks on the clock that sank Tolman in a 76-71 hole. Carvalho capped off his banner night with a hoop just as the final horn sounded.
“If we play together as a team, we have a chance to be very good. In the second half, we moved the ball and boxed out,” said Robinson-O’Hagan. “Once we passed the ball around, it made it a lot easier for me to score.”
The nightcap saw Cumberland start out strong and jump out to a 24-8 lead. Lincoln junior Cody Anter scored the game’s first basket but the Clippers soon flexed their muscles behind senior Jackson Zancan (game-best 12 points) and junior Brendan Raftery (11 points. Reedy was pleased with the play of freshman Colin Mories (seven points).
For Lincoln, which will face Tolman in Friday’s 6 p.m. consolation game, junior Vin Nassi swished two three-pointers as part of a team-high nine points. WOONSOCKET (76): Gary Lyles 2 2-3 6, Dwayne Robinson- O’Hagan 16 4-5 40, Marcus Harmon 0 0-0 9, Jossue Hernandez 2 2-2 6, Ousmane Kourouma 1 3-4 5, Justo Colon 4 3-4 12, Eric Agyemang 2 1-2 5, Jacob Bissonnette 0 0-0 0, Justus McLaurin 1 0-0 2. Totals: 29 15-18 76.
TOLMAN (73): Justin Carvalho 14 10-17 44, Ghaffar Danmola 0 0-0 0, Justin Klemanchuck 1 0-0 3, Salim Chakhsi 2 0-0 4, Izaiah Rivera-Lopez 8 0-1 19, Isai Prince 1 1-1 3, Brandson Mesquita 0 0-0 0, Brian Rivera 0 0-0 0, Sulayman Faal 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 11-19 73.
Halftime: T 39-28.
Three-point field goals: W 5 (Dwayne Robinson- O’Hagan 4, Justo Colon); T 10 Justin Carvalho 6, Izaiah Rivera-Lopez 3, Salim Chakhsi).
LINCOLN (26): Declan Quinn 3 0-0 6, Tyler McNulty 0 0-0 0, Brett Bessette 2 0-1 4, David Du 0 0-0 0, Cody Anter 1 0-0 2, Nick Villanova 0 0-0 0, Marty Gaughan 0 0-4 0, Vin Nassi 3 1-2 9, Josh Jahnz 1 3-6 5, Aaron DeSousa 0 0-0 0, Octavio Britto 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 4-13 26.
CUMBERLAND (42): Jacob Morey 0 0-0 0, Jackson Walsh 0 1-2 1, Dante Aviles- Santos 2 0-0 5, Shane Meerbott 1 0-0 2, Will Andrews 0 0-0 0, Ben Keeler 0 0-0 0, Mason Matos 1 0-0 2, Jackson Zancan 6 0-0 12, Brendan Raftery 5 0-1 11, Colin Mories 2 3-4 7, Seth Anderson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 4-7 42.
Halftime: C 24-8.
Three-point field goals: L 2 (Vin Nassi 2); C 2 (Brendan Raftery, Dante Aviles- Santos).