PORTSMOUTH — The Barrington High girls’ varsity basketball team had no trouble with Portsmouth when they last faced each other on Jan. 14. The Eagle’ strong defense made scoring difficult for the Patriots, who were trounced by a margin of 43-27.

It was a different story Monday night, when the two teams played in the quarterfinals of the R.I. Interscholastic League’s state tournament at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Led by star sophomore Gyselle Mairs, who scored 17 of her 26 points in the second half, the No. 6-seeded Patriots turned the tables on the Eagles (No. 3) with a decisive 49-39 victory.

Stella Orr (middle) receives a hug as teammates celebrate their “elite eight” win over Barrington at CCRI. Orr finished the game with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots.

Richard W. Dionne, Jr.

The win advanced Portsmouth to its first final four appearance in the state championship. The Patriots will play the winner of Tuesday’s La Salle Academy-Ponaganset game on Saturday, March 15, at the Ryan Center at the University of Rhode Island. Tip-off is at 2 p.m. 

If the Patriots were to win that game, they’ll play for all the marbles on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., also at the Ryan Center.