The very last game possible was required to finalize the seedings for 2024 Boys' Open State Championship Tournament, though for the East Providence High School squad it was certain the Townies would be the eighth seed and open the event with a home game Friday night, March 8, against ninth-seeded Johnston. Game time is 6 p.m.

The Division I league championship game between unbeaten No. 1-seed Classical and third-seeded LaSalle Wednesday night, March 6, was required to fill out the bracket. Regardless of the outcome, Classical will also be the top seed in the state tournament. A win in the D-I final for LaSalle, however, would bump the Rams up to the two seed in states and drop Barrington to the five. A LaSalle loss would see the teams switch spots.

Twelve teams qualify for the state tournament this year, a change from the 16 which had made up the field since the inception of the event back in 2011, meaning the top four seeds receive a bye directly into the quarterfinals next week to be played at Rhode Island College on March 11 and 12. The semifinals and finals of the event return to the University of Rhode Island's Ryan Center March 16 and 17.

Johnston preview

For East Providence, 2024 marks the Townies seventh consecutive trip to the open championship event. The locals are coming off their most successful stay in the event after winning a pair of games last winter and advancing to the final four where Hendricken ended the Townies' run in the semifinals, 62-55.

Johnston placed fourth in the '23-24 Division II regular season standings with a 14-4 league record behind unbeaten and eventual D-II tourney champ Lincoln as well as Pawtucket sides runner-up Tolman and St. Raphael. The Panthers won a game in the league playoffs before falling to Lincoln 55-40 in the semifinals.

The Townies did likewise in the D-I playoffs. East Providence trounced Central 82-41 in the opening round, which proved significant for the locals' state tourney chances. EP then was similarly smashed by Hendricken, 68-39, in the quarterfinals.

East Providence begins its trek this winter against a Johnston team it faced way back on the first day of the 2023-24 season, which resulted in a 61-35 non-league victory over the host Panthers on December 9.

"That was the first game of the year. It was early on. (Johnston's best player, senior forward NeAri Vasquez) was in foul trouble and didn't play much," said EPHS head coach Joe Andrade. "It's a different East Providence team now, and I'm sure they're a different team as well."

East Providence is certainly a changed outfit. Andrade noted senior forward Levi Jacobs, who would eventually emerge from being sidelined with injury the two previous years into a scoring and rebounding force for the locals, played sparingly to begin the season. And the Townies' rotation as a whole was in flux after losing all five starters from last year's state final four club. EP entered the season with only two players, senior center Kenaz Ochgwu and classmate guard Derrell Liggins, who saw competitive varsity minutes the year prior.

"I remember Johnston didn't have much size, but they play hard. They play tough. They're physical. I think they have a little chip on shoulder," Andrade continued. "And they have kids who have played in (the state tournament) before. Derrell and Kenaz both played last year, but not a great amount."

(The D-II league and playoff champs last winter, Johnston fell to D-I Smithfield 64-63 in the opening round of the 2023 state event.)

Andrade said keys to his teams' stay in the state tournament this winter will be "playing with a sense of urgency" and "paying attention to detail."

"I told the kids the other day at practice, and this came from another coach in our league, he said we're extremely easy to guard because we dribble the ball way too much. We don't move the ball on the offense. Take that from someone else who watches us play a lot," said Andrade.

He continued, "We can't make it easy for Johnston. If it's easy to guard us, they're going to beat us. They're a well coached team. This is not going to be a cupcake game. All things considered, we've already had a great year, but to get to that next level we have to have sense of urgency and retain information, execute the gameplan."

More tourney notes

If East Providence wins, the Townies advance to the quarterfinals against Classical at RIC Monday night, March 11, at 6 p.m.

East Providence actually gave Classical one of its more competitive games of the regular season, staying close with the visiting Purple into the third quarter before the guests pulled away en route to a 77-60 victory.

The Townies started the game on an 8-2 spurt, led 18-15 at the end of the first quarter and 31-30 at intermission. But

Classical put it all together in the third period. The Purple made a 3 to tie the score then took their first lead, 40-38, with just under two minutes played. The buckets were part of an overall 14-0 run by Classical, which eventually build a commanding 54-42 going into the fourth.

As mentioned, Classical is locked in as the top seed. Again, either LaSalle or Barrington will be the two with the other the five. Hendricken is the third seed with D-II champ Lincoln as the four in the same half of the bracket as the Townies and Purple. Whoever the five is will host 12th-seeded Cumberland then meet up with Lincoln in the quarters.

Hendricken and either LaSalle or Barrington will be on the other side of the draw. The Hawks will play the winner of the 6-11 game between Tolman and Portsmouth. Whoever is the two will face the winner of the 7-10 game between St. Raphael and D-III champ North Providence.