RIIL Mid-Season Check-Up

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Division I

With two losses on the season Bishop Hendricken has shown that although they are still among the favorites, their sixth straight state title is far from a certainty.  They still have one of the state’s best individual players in senior Billy Baron, along with talented junior Nick Manning and up and comer Ricardo Ledo.  Getting a healthy Matt Barboza back into the line-up before the state tournament is without question a crucial component to their ability to six-peat.  Hendricken is currently 9-2 on the season and 7-1 in the league. 

One of Hendricken’s biggest challengers will be Mount Pleasant, who has already scored a win over the defending champs.  Mount Pleasant’s talent is definitely in their backcourt with super sophomore Billy Soriano along with junior swingman Frank Robinson who is in the midst of a breakout season.  MP sits atop division I east with a season record of 11-1 and a league record of 7-1. 

Of all the division I teams in the state of Rhode Island only one is still undefeated, and that’s Woonsocket.  Save a 57-51 win over St. Raphael’s on December 30th, they haven’t even faced a serious test yet this season.  But that will all change soon as match-ups with both Hendricken and Mount Pleasant are on the horizon.  Antjuan Jones is the engine that makes Woonsocket go as he not only leads the team in scoring at just under 18 points per game but also serves as their floor general and primary play-maker. 

Complete Division I Standings

North
Woonsocket HS:  7-0 League, 10-0 Season
Smithfield HS, 5-3 League, 8-3 Season
St. Raphael Academy, 4-4 League, 7-5 Season
Cumberland HS, 2-6 League, 4-9 Season

South
North Kingstown HS, 5-3 League, 6-4 Season
South Kingstown HS, 4-3 League, 4-5 Season
Chariho HS, 1-6 League, 5-7 Season
Exeter/West Greenwich HS, 0-8 League, 2-10 Season

East
Mount Pleasant, 7-1 League, 11-1 Season
La Salle Academy, 3-4 League, 6-6 Season
East Providence HS, 3-5 League, 5-7 Season
Hope HS, 1-5 League, 2-7 Season

West
Bishop Hendricken HS, 7-1 League, 11-1 Season
Cranston HS East, 4-2 League, 8-2 Season
Cranston HS West, 5-3 League, 8-4 Season
Central HS, 1-6 League, 3-6 Season

Division II

Narragansett is a perfect 13-0 on the season including 9-0 against division II competition.  Senior Jay Jeanotte has been one of the most consistent performers in all of RIIL basketball so far this season as he is averaging over 22 points per game. 

The pre-season favorite in division II, Classical High School, is currently 8-2 on the season with losses to division I Bishop Hendricken as well as Woburn High School from Massachusetts.  But they’re still unscathed in division II with a perfect 7-0 mark.  They also have the advantage of having the state’s most dominant big man in Ashton Watkins along with a talented supporting cast led by Michael Palumbo. 

Portsmouth High School is off to a 9-2 start to the season, including a 7-1 mark within the league.  Freshman Andrew Chrabascz has been terrific thus far scoring over 17 points per game.  Patrick Fagan has also proven to be a consistent double figure scorer as well as someone capable of going for 20. 

Complete Division II Standings

North
Classical HS, 7-0 League, 8-2 Season
Shea HS, 5-2 League, 7-5 Season
Tolman HS, 5-2 League, 7-5 Season
Scituate HS, 5-2 League, 5-6 Season
North Providence HS, 5-3 League, 5-5 Season
Pilgrim HS, 4-4 League, 7-5 Season
Lincoln HS, 4-5 League, 5-7 Season
Toll Gate HS, 1-6 League, 5-7 Season
Ponaganset HS, 1-6 League, 1-10 Season
Warwick Veterans HS, 0-6 League, 0-9 Season

South
Narragansett HS, 9-0 League, 13-0 Season
Portsmouth HS, 7-1 League, 9-2 Season
Rogers HS, 6-2 League, 10-2 Season
Tiverton HS, 5-3 League, 6-7 Season
Coventry HS, 4-3 League, 6-4 Season
West Warwick HS, 3-5 League, 8-5 Season
East Greenwich HS, 3-7 League, 4-9 Season
Westerly HS, 2-6 League, 5-7 Season
Barrington HS, 2-6 League, 4-9 Season
Mt. Hope HS, 0-7 League, 2-10 Season

Division III

Moses Brown and Central Falls appear to be the two most prominent contenders in division III.  Moses Brown is 7-1 in the league and 8-1 on the season behind leading scorer Anjuwon Spence, leading rebounder Tosan Eyetsemitan, and leading distributor Luke Martin.  Central Falls is also 7-1 in the league and 9-2 on the season behind the play of their star junior guard Robert Alers. 

Complete Division III Standings

Moses Brown HS, 7-1 League, 8-1 Season
Central Falls HS, 7-1 League, 9-2 Season
North Smithfield HS, 7-2 League, 7-5 Season
Mount St. Charles Academy, 5-4 League, 6-5 Season
Johnston HS, 4-4 League, 4-7 Season
Burrillville HS, 4-5 League, 5-8 Season
Juanita Sanchez HS, 3-5 League, 4-7 Season
Middletown HS, 3-6 League, 3-8 Season
Prout School, 1-6 League, 1-9 Season
Davies HS, 0-0 League, 0-3 Season
Our Lady of Fatima HS, 0-8 League, 0-11 Season

Records and stats are care of the Providence Journal and HS Game Time