Sophomore explodes for 31 points in Division 1 title game as Bishop Hendricken wins sixth straight title; Dillon rules paint for LaSalle three-peat.
Ricky Ledo delivered his best performance at exactly the right time, scoring 31 points --- 20 above his season average ---- to help lead Bishop Hendricken (19-2) to its sixth straight Division 1 title, 94-76, over Mt. Pleasant.
Ledo, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, scored 25 points in the first half to help the Hawks to a 10-point lead at the break. Tourney MVP Billy Baron and Matt Barboza, seniors who added 25 points and 19 points, respectively, made sure the Hawks never looked back. Their championship reign now ranks as the state's second longest streak ever after Central (1969-75).
Point guard Billy Soriano, Mt. Pleasant's Player of the Game, had 25 points and made three shots from beyond the arc while Frank Robinson contributed 18 points, Jeff Darius 12 and Isaiah Odunlami 11 for the Kilties (17-4).
All-Tournament Team: Mike Juarez, Cranston East; Ethan Smith, Cranston West; Billy Soriano and Jeff Darius, Mt. Pleasant; Matt Barboza, Bishop Hendricken. MVP - Billy Baron, Bishop Hendricken.
Division 2 Boys
Tournament MVP Michael Palumbo scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and hit four 3-pointers to forge the way for Classical in its second consecutive state title victory, 69-49, against Narragansett.
Also sharing honors for the Purple (20-1) was 6-5 senior center Ashton Watkins whose 13 points and 17 rebounds put him over the 1,000 mark in career points and rebounds. Classical's other double-digit scorers were Jordan Jones (15) and Lavon Waite (11).
Jay Jeannotte had 17 points and Brendan Kenny and Nate Patterson had 12 each for the Mariners, Division 2 South champions who ended with a 19-2 record.
All-Tournament Team: Ashton Watkins, Classical; Jay Jeannotte, Narragansett; Jared Hanson, Scituate; Trevor Dimicco, Coventry; Brendan Kenny, Narragansett. MVP - Michael Palumbo, Classical. Players of the Game - Nate Patterson, Narragansett; Michael Palumbo, Classical.
Division 1 Girls
It's a three-peat for LaSalle after putting away Bay View, 59-48, behind a sterling 21-point, 11-rebound performance by 6-1 senior center Jameilia Dillon. It was the sixth state crown in the past eight years for the Rams (22-2).
The Central Connecticut-bound Dillon, a key member of the Rams' last three title squads, ruled inside the paint. But there were also key contributions by Alexia Veiga (15 points, 9 rebounds) and by Torey Jones who contributed 12 points.
Jessica Randall had a game 18 points for Bay View and Jill Woerner added nine for the Bengals, state finalists for the past three years.
All-Tourney Team: Torey Jones and Jameilia Dillon, LaSalle; Jill Woerner and Brittany Wilkinson, Bay View; Alexandra Jones, South Kingstown. MVP---Jameilia Dillon, Players of the Game: Alexia Vega, La Salle; Jessica Randall, Bay View.
Division 2 Girls
Woonsocket freshman Kailey Fugere had a game-high 23 points, including 17 in the second half, to pave the way for Woonsocket's first state title, 55-42, over two-time defending champion Barrington.
The Villa Novans carved a 31-19 halftime lead and never were threatened afterwards. Brooke Coderre also contributed 11 points to the winning effort for Woonsocket (22-2) and was named Tournament MVP.
Leading scorers for the Eagles (23-3) were sophomores Catherine Matthews with 17 points and Kelly Mannix with 15.
All-Tournament: Ashley Dubois and Lauren Masse, Woonsocket; Kelly Mannix and Catherine Matthews, Barrington; Sarah Ethier, Portsmouth. MVP - Brooke Coderre.
Division 3 Boys
Tourney MVP Anjuwon Spence had 19 points to help Moses Brown (18-3) capture its second straight title, a 60-49 upset victory over Central Falls. Ben Drapcho added 14, Tosan Eyetsemitan 13 and Ian Deveau 11 for the Quakers, winners for the first time in three tries this season over their division foe.
The Quakers also depended on their division-leading defense (45 points per game) to hold the top-seeded Warriors (19-2) to 26 points below their season average and end their 19-game win streak.
Central Falls had five players with seven or more points, led by George Carle 16 and Luis Pena with 10.
All-Tournament Team: Ryan Pangborn, Mt. St. Charles; Stephen Vario, N. Smithfield; George Carle and Antonio Mena, Central Falls; Luke Martin, Moses Brown. MVP - Anjuwon Spence.
Division 3 GirlsAnairis Rodriguez was the deciding factor for Central Falls (17-2) in a frantic 57-54 double-overtime win over defending champion Hope.
Rodriguz, a 5-11 freshman center named Tourney MVP and Warriors' Player of the Game, sparkled in the second half and into overtime, scoring and controlling the boards (17 points, 16 rebounds). Her free throw tied the score to send the game into the first overtime and her five points led the way in the second overtime.
Another Warriors' freshman, Angelique Cooley, finished with 12 points, Valarie Biasconchea contributed 10 points and Jenny Gonzalez had eight.
Sophomore guard Mikaela Garvin, Player of the Game for the Blue Wave (12-4), had 20 points while teammate Maiya Monteiro connected for 16 points, including four three-pointers.
