Second-half surge lifts ‘Canes over Paul Cuffee

Matt Metcalf, Sports Editor
Posted 2/19/15

The seniors on the Warwick Vets boys’ basketball team have had an outstanding run.

The group of nine seniors have been a luxury for the school’s basketball program, as they’ve led the …

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Second-half surge lifts ‘Canes over Paul Cuffee

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The seniors on the Warwick Vets boys’ basketball team have had an outstanding run.

The group of nine seniors have been a luxury for the school’s basketball program, as they’ve led the ‘Canes to back-to-back 10-win seasons – a rare occurance for a team that has struggled for much of the past decade.

So it was only fitting that Vets was led by its seniors on Monday night, as the school honored the veterans prior to the game in what would be their final home game.

Six seniors – Josh Muto, Kyle Rice, Ryan Wirth, Israel Thomas, Jeremy Batista and Kevin Martin – combined for all 59 of Vets’ points in a 59-40 win over Paul Cuffee.

“I think in the second half we needed that senior leadership because that Paul Cuffee team is a scrappy team,” Vets head coach Chris LeBlanc said.

The ‘Canes jumped out to an early 13-1 lead, as it looked as if Vets was going to blow Paul Cuffee out of the gym.

However, a stingy Paul Cuffee team turned the game around quickly with its defense, forcing turnovers and turning them into easy, transition buckets.

By the time there was three minutes remaining in the first half, Paul Cuffee had crawled all the way back to take its first lead, 19-18, on a basket in the paint by Adrion Brown.

Vets would answer and fight to tie the game, 23-23, at halftime, but the tie had to feel like a deficit for the ‘Canes, who let Paul Cuffee back into the game by playing careless basketball.

“I think we got nervous and stopped playing like a team,” LeBlanc said. “But we had a talk at halftime and came right back out and did our jobs.”

After Vets and Paul Cuffee traded baskets for the first few minutes of the second half, the ‘Canes were finally able to take the lead for good.

A steal and jumper by Rice with 8:20 left gave the ‘Canes a 39-33.

Kevin Martin – Vets’ top threat in the front-court – battled foul trouble all game long, giving someone else the opportunity to fill that role.

That someone else was fellow senior, Ryan Wirth.

Wirth played more minutes than usual, while scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds.

With 5:15 to play, Wirth dribbled into the paint and kicked the ball out to Rice, who splashed an open 3 to give Vets an 11-point lead, 46-35.

“Ryan played an excellent game tonight,” LeBlanc said. “I think this might have been one of his better games.”

Wirth and Israel Thomas played effective, physical games in the paint with Martin on the bench.

“I tell the kids that Division III-South is like the old Big East with every game being a dog fight,” LeBlanc said. “That’s how Israel and Ryan played tonight inside.”

Three minutes later, Muto coasted past a defender and sank a floater over Paul Cuffee’s front-court, giving the ‘Canes a 52-37 lead.

Muto led the ‘Canes on the score sheet, draining a team-high 16 points.

Rice was the third ‘Canes’ player in double-figures, as he scored nine of his 12 points in the second half.

Thomas scored six points in the second half and eight for the game, while also grabbing six boards.

Paul Cuffee’s Brown was the high-scorer for the game, netting a game-high 20 points in the losing effort.

Kevin Smith also added 11 points for Paul Cuffee.

Vets played its final game of the regular season on Tuesday night at Mount St. Charles and held off the Mounties, 56-55, to conclude its league slate with an 11-5 record.

The ‘Canes were led by Muto and Shane Kittila in the season finale, as the two seniors finished in double-figures.

Muto scored a team-high 15 points, while Kittila knocked down a team-high three 3-pointers en route to a 10-point performance.

The ‘Canes have now locked up the 5-seed for the D-III tournament, which will kick-off this weekend, with the quarterfinals slated for Monday and Tuesday.

Vets will have a road game in the quarterfinals against the 4-seed. Its opponent is to be determined.

“I like the fact that we’re a 5-seed because we should be on the other side of the bracket away from Pilgrim,” LeBlanc said. “I’m looking for an all Warwick final. That would be great.”

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