SPORTS

Pilgrim edges rival Toll Gate

Pats erase early deficit to win, 79-67

Posted 2/4/21

By ALEX SPONSELLER Despite falling behind early, the Pilgrim boys basketball team edged rival Toll Gate 79-67 on Tuesday evening at Vets. The Titans came out hot and took a three-point lead into the second quarter, but Pilgrim would adjust and work its

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
SPORTS

Pilgrim edges rival Toll Gate

Pats erase early deficit to win, 79-67

Posted

By ALEX SPONSELLER Despite falling behind early, the Pilgrim boys basketball team edged rival Toll Gate 79-67 on Tuesday evening at Vets.

The Titans came out hot and took a three-point lead into the second quarter, but Pilgrim would adjust and work its way to a 10-point advantage at the halftime break.

“(Toll Gate) came out strong, made some shots. We tried to come out and speed them up which didn’t work in our favor so we had to make some quick adjustments which I think we did well. I felt like we were in control from there on out,” said Pilgrim coach Matt Fontaine.

Pilgrim would hold strong in the second half to secure the victory. Tyriek Weeks led the Pats with a game-high 29 points while Peter Kay added 24 points and Kenny Rix 10. Francisco Lopez led Toll Gate with 27 points scored while Liam Hart added 13.

Slowing Lopez down was key in the second quarter according to Fontaine.

“We got better and tighter on Francisco. Francisco was getting a lot of clean looks, so our team did a good job of making some switches. We started moving the ball a little better, made them have to start running, using our deeper bench,” said Fontaine. “Tyriek played well, Kenny knocked down some shots. Our bench guys, Cam Grilli came in and did a good job playing Fran on defense, Aidan Viveiros, Danny Halliwell, we got to the way we wanted to play after getting punched in the mouth.”

Despite playing in an empty gym, the two teams were still fired up to face one another to add another chapter in the city’s rivalry.

“You could feel the energy still, they were fired up. Any time you get Pilgrim versus Toll Gate it’s going to be a battle. They came out strong and I was happy with our response and the way we answered. We could have done things a little bit better down the stretch, eating up clock, but those are things that we can work on,” said Fontaine.

Pilgrim improved to 3-1 on the season and extended its winning streak to three straight since dropping the season opener to East Greenwich.

The Pats have been relying on their deep bench and have thrived thanks to tough internal competition every day.

“That first game, we were ready but I think we could have used a little bit more endurance. You can simulate it as best as you can, having the masks on, but now we have settled in. We’re focused on each day and right now, four games in, we are 3-1 and have had 13 guys play. That’s depth, we have guys challenging each other for minutes and that’s what we want,” said Fontaine, who admitted that the Pats will have tough sledding ahead with four games in eight days. “It’s going to be about sticking to our principals. It’s going to be more work and it’s going to be tough for gameplanning, but with the veterans in this group, I am confident that we’ll be ready for anyone.”

The Titans dropped to 2-1 with the loss after winning their first two contests against Mt. Hope and Tiverton. Lopez led the Titans last Friday with 17 points in the team’s win over the Tigers.

basketball, sports

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here