By Russ Waterman
MaxPreps.com
So far, so familiar.
With a few exceptions, that's the best way to describe Rhode Island Interscholastic League boys' basketball as the regular season passes the midway point.
Top-ranked Bishop Hendricken (9-1), four-time defending Division I champions, has been challenged a few times, but rarely has lost to any state team in the past five years. With their usual depth, buoyed by two of the state's premier players in 6-1 senior guard Brendan Degnan and 6-2 junior guard Billy Baron (son of URI coach Jim Baron and brother of Jimmy Baron, former Hawk and URI sharpshooter), the Hawks are primed for another serious title run.
Creating a buzz at No. 2 is Classical High. The Division II Purple (9-1) averages 76 points per game, while yielding just 49.6 ppg, and has cruised past divisional competition. Their only loss was 75-57 to Windsor, Conn., the No. 3-ranked team in the Nutmeg State. Five-foot-9 guard Josh Cabrera connected for eight 3-pointers in one game, while 5-8 point guard Levon Waite and 6-1 athletic guard Victor Kashouh have also lit up the scoring column.
Meanwhile, third-ranked North Kingstown (9-1) has quietly been carving up opponents in dominating Division I South. The trio of Mason Kenney (a 5-10 point guard), 6-4 shooting forward Will Smiley and 6-4 power forward Brad Peterson are combining for over 50 points per game.
Fourth-ranked Woonsocket, whose head coach is former URI standout guard Kyle Ivey-Jones, is stirring the Ocean State hoop waters, too. The Villa Novans (10-0) will host Hendricken on Jan. 18, providing the stiffest competition to date for both squads. Rivals struggle to find ways to stop 5-9 guard Antjuan Jones and 6-2 guard Brett Codere on the outside, and 6-5 senior forward Michael Akinrola and 6-4 Michael LaPlante on the inside.
Anchoring the middle for No. 5 St. Raphael Academy (7-1) is 6-7 center Jeff Holmes, while 6-3 forward Doug Hopper had a breakout game recently. Holmes may be the Ocean State's best big man, having posted a double-double effort of 24 points and 24 rebounds in a triumph over East Providence. Mike Holland (a 5-7 point guard) and Justin Maneca (a 5-9 guard) also have led the way for the Saints, who fought No. 4 Woonsocket all the way before falling, 71-64.
Defending Division II champ Feinstein of Providence (ranked sixth) met and passed its first real test at West Warwick last week. Behind 6-2 guard Jerrell Gomes, the Falcons (11-1) made a dramatic 17-1 comeback to post a 72-69 win. Perhaps the best team overall last season, Feinstein might not be as deep this year, but with Gomes and a strong starting five, including guard Corey Barrett, inside-out force Cameron Benton and 6-4 center Mike Babatunde, it is on a likely collision path with Classical for the state title in March.
Rogers of Newport, 7-2, is ranked No. 7 for two reasons: tenacious defense, holding opponents to just 46 ppg and a victory over No. 3 North Kingstown. Mason Choice, a 6-3 shooting guard and Joe Saunders, a 5-11 point guard, spearhead the Division II Vikings.
Central (6-5) rose to No. 8 and doesn't rely exclusively on multi-talented 6-2 guard/forward Carl Mangum. Point guard James Belcher, with a 32-point effort, had a breakout game in the Knights win over E-WHS, and Lamonte Thomas has registered a few 20-point plus games, including seven 3-pointers in one win.
Exeter-West Greenwich at No. 9 has the high-scoring senior duo of 5-11 guard Pat Sturdahl and 6-2 guard David Storti accounting for over 44 points per contest. The Scarlet Knights (6-4) lost a two-point game to No. 2 Feinstein and were edged by No. 8 Central, 90-89, on Jan. 4 in a double-overtime affair, with Storti pouring in 33 points and Sturdahl adding 32.
Mt. Pleasant at No. 10 relies on 6-4 small forward Esai Touze, 5-9 point guard Ethan Gaye, and an overall balanced attack. In two competitive road contests, the Kilties (6-4) came up narrowly short, 66-58, to No. 4 Woonsocket, and by 61-55 versus No. 5 St. Raphael.
