Hawks close regular season with convincing win over ‘Bolts

Matt Metcalf, Sports Editor
Posted 2/19/15

It’s ideal for a team to be playing their best basketball heading into the most important part of the year. 

The Bishop Hendricken basketball team can say that with confidence heading …

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Hawks close regular season with convincing win over ‘Bolts

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It’s ideal for a team to be playing their best basketball heading into the most important part of the year. 

The Bishop Hendricken basketball team can say that with confidence heading into the Division I tournament, which will begin preliminary rounds this weekend. 

The Hawks cruised past Cranston East on Tuesday night, dominating the ‘Bolts by 27 points on the road, 77-50, to eliminate them from playoff contention. 

Although East was missing its best player in point guard Jessy Taveras, Hendricken was firing on all cylinders, as 11 different players scored to combine for the 77 points. 

Hendricken’s tremendous depth is what makes it a state title contender once again this year.

“I thought it was a tremendous team effort and we got contributions from many different players,” Hendricken head coach Jamal Gomes said. 

Leading the Hawks’ surge was junior Dimitri Rosa, who was absolutely unconscious from behind the arc, knocking down seven 3’s – four in the first half and three in the second – en route to scoring a game-high 21 points.  

Rosa, who comes off the bench for the Hawks, can change an entire game when he’s shooting like he did on Tuesday night. 

“Rosa shot a high percentage from the three-point line tonight,” Gomes said. “When he’s shooting like that, it gives our offense a tremendous boost.” 

With the game still close about six minutes into the first half, Rosa came in off the bench and completely broke open the game. 

The sharp-shooting guard knocked down three 3’s right away to score nine-straight points for the Hawks. The third 3 gave the Hawks a 23-9 lead. 

Hendricken took a 31-20 lead into the half. 

Besides Rosa’s 12 points, sophomore Justin Mazzulla and freshman Preston Santos scored six points apiece in the opening half. 

In the second half, Hendricken’s offense absolutely exploded, scoring 46 points. 

The Hawks’ second half was highlighted by an emphatic alley-oop dunk from Trevor Lawton to Santos with 11 minutes remaining to give Hendricken a 50-27 lead. 

Santos had seven points after halftime and finished with 13 points, while Mazzulla finished with 11. 

Forwards Lawton and Ira Lough also had solid games, scoring 10 and seven points respectively in the win. 

With the win, the Hawks concluded the regular season with a 14-2 record. 

Hendricken will host a game in the quarterfinals on either Monday or Tuesday night with the opponent to be determined. The Hawks will play the winner of one of the preliminary games that will be held this weekend. 

“Now we start our second season, which is the divisional playoffs,” Gomes said. “Then we have the big season, which is the state tournament. I keep stressing to them that every day, every practice and every game that we have to continue to get better. If you don’t continue to get better at this point of the year in the playoffs, you’ll go home.”

Santos growing into role as freshman standout

While many freshmen basketball players around the state concluded their seasons last week, Hendricken’s Preston Santos will continue to be a main piece to the Hawks’ playoff run over the next month. 

Santos, who is undoubtedly the top freshman in the state, has evolved from a bench player to a reliable contributor in Hendricken’s starting five. 

Hendricken head coach Jamal Gomes has had numerous talented freshmen and there’s no question that Santos is a special player with scary potential. 

“Preston can do things out on that court that no coach can teach,” Gomes said. “I think his instincts and athleticism are tremendous. You get glimpses of where he can be in a couple of years and it could be scary.” 

Santos threw down two eye-popping jams on Tuesday night – one after a steal in transition and the other on an alley-oop off of a pass from Trevor Lawton. 

But with success has also come growing pains for the lanky freshman. 

Gomes insisted that Santos still has a lot to learn, but likes the fact that he is an extremely coachable player, as he’s a sponge who always wants to learn and get better. 

“He does have a lot to learn still on the defensive end and with the overall understanding of our offense,” Gomes said. “But the best thing about Preston is that he wants to learn. He always asks questions and his teammates help him.” 

Santos’ situation is unique, as he has had to learn some things on the fly as a starter on the varsity team. 

“Most freshmen are playing on the freshmen team,” Gomes said. “They get that time to learn, while he’s starting on the varsity team. He’s a major contributor.” 

There’s no question that the Hawks have a rare talent in Santos. 

He’s arguably one of the best players in the state and will only continue to get better. 

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