Basketball Routs Mt. Hope, Advances to State Semi-Finals vs. LaSalle

One more go-'round.

Let The Hype begin.

Hawks-Rams.  Round Three.

The third head-to-head hardwood matchup between the state's greatest rivals is set for this Friday night, at 8 pm at the Ryan Center. The Hawks and Rams assured all high school basketball fans of a third contest when both teams prevailed yesterday afternoon at the Pizzatola Center at Brown University in the quarterfinals of the Open State Basketball tournament. 

The Hawks, after surviving a scare from East Greenwich in the opening round at CCRI, blew the doors off the Pizzatola Center in cruising to an 82-52 win over Mount Hope. The Rams, after having a relatively easy time with Middletown in the first round at RIC, survived a scare of their own yesterday in their win over defending state champion Classical, 56-52. 

So, the date and the combatants are set. The Final Four in this year's Open State Basketball Tournament will feature Central and Coventry in the first semi-final at 6 pm, and then the Hawks and the Rams will square off at 8.  The Ryan Center is sure to be jumpin'.

Of course, the Rams have been the best team in the state all season from right out of the gate. They're currently sporting a 27-1 mark, which includes two wins over the Hawks. The first was down on Academy Avenue, when the Rams prevailed 76-66 in a rare Sunday event. The Rams largely controlled that game from about the mid-way point of the first half, but our guys managed to hang tough throughout. That game can be seen, in its entirety, right here.

            
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In the second matchup, the Rams punched our guys square in the mouth from the opening tip with some early lights-out shooting, and, for all intents and purposes, the Hawks never recovered in a 79-62 loss to the Maroon in the semi-finals of the Division I tournament. That game can also be seen in its entirety, right here.

            
Video streaming by Ustream
            
Video streaming by Ustream

            
Video streaming by Ustream

Yesterday, the Hawks put the pedal down from the opening tip, taking a 14-2 lead and never looking back. By halftime the score was 45-19, and the Hawks finished off the Huskies with a 30-point win. Garfield Coustard and Matt Duffie led the way for the Hawks with 19 points apiece, followed closely by Will Parmlee with 17.

It's time to ready ourselves for Round Three. Let's hope it's different this time.